Memo To Palin: Fruit Fly Research Has Led To Advances In Understanding Autism» This morning, Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) gave her first policy speech urging the federal government to fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), “a law ensuring services to children with disabilities throughout the nation.” In the speech, Palin cited the need to do more for children with disabilities such as autism: For many parents of children with disabilities, the most valuable thing of all is information. Early identification of a cognitive or other disorder, especially autism, can make a life-changing difference. Palin claimed that the amount that Congress spends on earmarks “is more than the shortfall to fully fund IDEA.” She then ridiculed some of the projects — such as “fruit fly research” — saying they have little or no value: Where does a lot of that earmark money end up anyway? […] You’ve heard about some of these pet projects they really don’t make a whole lot of sense and sometimes these dollars go to projects that have little or nothing to do with the public good. Things like fruit fly research in Paris, France. I kid you not. Watch it: <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HCXqKEs68Xk&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HCXqKEs68Xk&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> Palin did not specify what fruit fly research earmark she was referring to (presumably a grant for olive fruit fly research), but she is apparently unaware that scientific research with fruit flies has led to valuable discoveries that have boosted autism research, as a study at the University of North Carolina demonstrated last year: cientists at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine have shown that a protein called neurexin is required for..nerve cell connections to form and function correctly. The discovery, made in Drosophila fruit flies may lead to advances in understanding autism spectrum disorders, as recently, human neurexins have been identified as a genetic risk factor for autism. The study of fruit flies has also been used for other autism research and “revolutionize[d]” the study of birth defects. http://thinkprogress.org/2008/10/24/palin-fruit-flies/
Yeah, and right before mocking scientific research she mocked earmarks for bridges, forgetting her own sordid history on that issue. I watched this speech live on MSNBC. At two points she appeard to talk back to the teleprompters/speechwriters, while reading along, as if it was her first encounter with the final draft. Along the lines of, referring to special needs children, "We'lls provide funding to find a cure for--it's not a disease. I don't want to call it a disease. They're special," then, a few minutes later, "We're not facing a challenge; like i said yesterday, it's a special challenge." Looking for video/transcript for the relevant quote. Strangest thing.
It differs from the prepared remarks given to reporters. <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/irQlemyx6Nk&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/irQlemyx6Nk&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> Around 2:50 in: Unfortunately, the FNC host cuts in before the second instance, when she objected to "challenge," with the objection, apropos of nothing, along the lines of, "like I said yesterday." Dunno; for what was billed as her first major policy address, it just seemed to strike a discordant note. On-topic, aren't Drosophila flies one of the major laboratory insects for experimentation, akin to guinea pigs or chimps for mammals? I thought a lot of the breakthroughs in DNA research came from fruit flies.
Well, a scalpel might be better when carving initials... while a hatchet just lobs the whole thing right off. ATTACK the PALIN! Disregard EVERY positive... Too bad millions won't.
So the next time a girl fakes an attack and carves a backwards B into her own face you will recommend she uses a scalpel to fake the attack?
Yeah, tons of genetic research is done with Drosophila. To even refer to fruit fly research as if it were a specific study seems strange, it is so ubiquitous.
LOL, she mentions wasteful pet projects that you may have heard of like these bridges... God what an IDIOT!
At one point during the speech, she implied that her special needs funding increase would be the lone exception to McCain's gimmicky "spending freeze." (I believe McCain exempted defense spending as well during the last debate.) Several billion dollars for special needs education funding has priority over all other aspects of government: health care, reforming FDA, funding scientific research? WTF? I may be heartless, but education for children with mental disabilities doesn't even crack my top 100 of most-needed funding reforms.
take it easy on her guys, i don't believe a Communications degree from northwestern-central-idaho-matanuska-alaskan community college requires science credits.
BTW- I admitted I was wrong about the chick in the "carving" thread. Perhaps we'd all be better served to insist these types always use the hatchet.
