dahemmi

It's strange that other professions are allowed to have projects that aren't changing the world in some amazing way, but people seem to think science isn't permitted to create something purely for entertainment or to be creative. Music, film and television don't achieve anything great and are creative works to attempt to bring a bit of joy, pleasure or entertainment to people; and these professions are highly valued. This is what I see as the desired outcome here, plus there's boundless scientific learning that comes from a project like this that can transfer across to all sorts of other projects that you might deem more worthy.

You're also overlooking the intrigue and sense of wonderment that a creation like this flower could bring to children and students; increasing their fascination and interest in science and spawning a desire to learn.

I was responding to the comment about this being a waste of time, not about patents.

My background is in biology and I have done a bit of teaching as well. It amazed me how students could hate science so much when it's so much about discovering exciting, mind blowing things. It wasn't until I began to see that everything was book learning and exams- never an exciting, creative journey of discovery. The very first time I used my light microscope in uni and saw red blood cells for myself blew me away and was amazing- not to mention cytoplasmic streaming and blastocysts! Exciting, fun projects like yours should be encouraged because they embrace passion and a desire for discovery alongside the learning you will gain. To me, the sense of awe and curiosity are the fundamental reasons the study of science exists.

People with Ehlers-Danlos have collagen that is too flexible which allows the veins to over stretch and reduces the autonomic nervous system's ability to cause them to contract when blood pressure drops. In fact noradrenaline, which is the chemical that the ANS releases to constrict blood vessels causes them to dilate in a lot of POTS patients, causing a loop of lowering BP, more adrenaline production, lower BP, MORE adrenaline, LOWER BP... you get the picture. I have POTS and EDS and was studying biology before I got sick.

Do you also get frustrated by the general naivity surrounding genetic modification, and have you come up with any explanations that have set protesters minds at ease?