Research Articles Explained | Credit: XKCD

Oh okay

~Space Pride Dragons~

by mermaid_danii

Arch of Latias in Sahra

A group of travelers is leaving the desert city on the road towards their next grand adventure, while a group of kids fish for coins in a small stream.

Youre telling me the bartender is a mouse? Shes a girl whos a mouse? *chuckles warmly* That's pretty out there. I'm too old for that kind of thing, but you have fun with that. *to myself after you walk away, but with no trace of spite in my voice* A bartender who's a mouse... what will they think of next?

Questioner: My question is about biology and genetics. We've seen that magical systems rely on *inaudible* genetics, like allomancy, or spiritual DNA. Can we use *inaudible* CRISPR to either weaponize or take someone's magical ability or give them a magical ability?

Brandon Sanderson: Kind of. The in-world version of this is Hemalurgy, as you already know. There are methods that would do this, but straight genetics alone with CRISPR wouldn't do it.

You need the spiritual component for these to work, almost assuredly. You might be able to use CRISPR... no, I don't think there are any of them it would work on. Is it possible you could make someone into a kandra?

That may be possible, right? But I'm not 100% sure on that.

Questioner: Can you use CRISPR with Ashyn viruses or bacteria?

Brandon Sanderson: Probably not, but that's more likely. I'd have to think on that. I'm gonna say "probably not" for now, but we'll minorly RAFO that. Good questions.

Lamproderma scintillans by Andy Sands

Sequoia Brussels sprouts are delicious but it's pretty hard to finish one.

Bassica [Explained]

Transcript Under the Cut

[Cueball, Megan and another Cueball are standing in front of a Giant Sequoia] Cueball: Did you know the Mighty Redwood is actually the same species as broccoli and kale? It's just a different cultivar. Another Cueball: Wow! [Caption below the panel] Every year or two, botanists add another plant to Brassica oleracea and see if anyone calls them on it.