New York Times:
Researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College released a study on Thursday that mapped DNA found in New York’s subway system — a crowded, largely subterranean behemoth that carries 5.5 million riders on an average weekday, and is filled with hundreds of species of bacteria (mostly harmless), the occasional spot of bubonic plague, and a universe of enigmas. Almost half of the DNA found on the system’s surfaces did not match any known organism and just 0.2 percent matched the human genome.
I’m never taking the New York City subway ever again.
Wimp. 😉
It gets better when you consider all the neglected century-old infrastructure in the tunnels that expose the whole system to drainage from above. Quite a petri dish.
I think the Washington DC metro rail could give NYC a run for its DNA… or biologicals.
http://www.wmata.com/rail/maps/map.cfm
They (WMATA) are stripping out much of the nasty old kitchen carpet from some cars – and adding new cars with a hard surface… you still see things that make you wonder.
Some day, DC might be that good.
“just 0.2 percent matched the human genome.”
Because, riders who appear to be human, are not.
I have seen those movies that portray the TRUTH.
Do you really think that Men in Black is a work of fiction?
All this really tells us is that most microbes aren’t “known” at the DNA match level.
Wait ’til they survey the taxis, Shawn!
Steven King just opened up a new document file and is typing: “Every day I rode through those tunnels, and every day when we passed by one particular stop I always felt a chill go up my spine. Now, God help me, I know why…”