The cat who could smell death

This week's episode of House featured a cat who predicted patient death, indicated by who she chose to nap with.

We've hear of dogs that can sniff out tumours but a cat that can sniff out people at death's door? The House episode is reminiscent of a "Perspective" piece published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2007 [pdf] about one Oscar the cat at a Rhode Island care facility.

Oscar the Cat has had an uncanny ability to predict when residents are about to die. Thus far, he has presided over the deaths of more than 25 residents on the third floor of Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Providence, Rhode Island. His mere presence at the bedside is viewed by physicians and nursing home staff as an almost absolute indicator of impending death, allowing staff members to adequately notify families.

Unlike House's typical last minute stroke of genius, no concrete explanation is given for Oscar's 'predictions'. Still, the staff seem convinced of his powers. Is there something to it, or just a classic case of confirmation bias?

Incidentally, if you're interested in a doctor's take House's weekly mystery, check out this blog.

Laboratory Wisdom

Making my usual TAE agarose gel for electrophoresis of some DNA constructs I am attempting to make, I was wondering about some of the 'lab wisdom' that I have received over the years. I think molecular biology is particularly full of superstitions passed from person to person. Probably because it is such usually a 'means to an end' instead of actual science. Specifically I was wondering about the practice on our research floor of cooling the molten agarose to below 70C before addition of Ethidium Bromide (EtBr). The wisdom is that if EtBr is added before the agarose cools you are exposing yourself to vapours containing EtBr. Not good if you know about EtBr.
Quickly, EtBr is a chemical often used to visual DNA in agarose gels. It intercalates between DNA strands and in such an environment is a fluorescent orange/gold colour. Useful, yes. Also it is a mutagen, as determined by the Ames test. According to the Ames test EtBr is somewhere between mothballs and a cigarette in terms of mutagenicity. I guess this is not surprising because of its intimate interaction with DNA.
Lab wisdom is often suspect, as the previous link discusses. Check out some forum discussions on the very topic of EtBr in agarose gels. Scientists apparently like to talk about anecdotal evidence.
My favourite example of bad lab wisdom is about ethanol precipitations of DNA. Most people when performing this common procedure keep the solution of DNA, salt and ethanol on ice or at -20C for a certain time before centrifugation to pellet the precipitated DNA. You can be the biggest annoying know-it-all if, next time you see someone doing this, slap down this reference. This says that this cooling is completely unnecessary and can actually decrease yields. I keep a couple printed out on my bench for just such occasions.
A quick look at the MSDS for EtBr reveals that its vapour pressure is undetermined as is its mutagenic and carcinogenic potential. Sounds like this particular lab wisdom is unfounded but in this case perhaps it is wise.
Any other examples of bad lab wisdom that you happen to know about? Pass it on to the bayblab so that we can correct everyone in a very annoying, know-it-all manner.
[the festive agarose gel was ganked from tim holzer.]

Superstitious Sportsfans

The Stanley Cup finals are over and there's a sombre mood here among the Senators faithful. The Stanley Cup is steeped in history and tradition (and in my opinion is the greatest trophy in sport). Hockey players themselves have some interesting traditions, such as the playoff beard. Hockey players are also extremely superstitious and can adhere to some bizarre rituals to help tilt games in their favour. Those watching Ottawa throughout the playoffs surely noticed Ray Emery burying his head in the net before each contest. Some of these rituals are much more bizarre. Former Senators forward Bruce Gardiner used to dip his stick in the toilet before each game. Some goalies talk to their goal posts. Wayne Gretzky never go this hair cut on the road.

We in science tend to take a more evidence-based approach to things, yet we're not immune to these sort of superstition. During this year's NHL playoffs, you would still hear the majority around here talking about not watching the game at a certain location because 'they lost last time we were there', or wearing a particular t-shirt for good luck. Clearly the outcome of a sporting event is beyond the control of the viewer at home, regardless of what they're wearing (either that or the collective fan-base of Anaheim is much better at harnessing this voodoo than those of us in Ottawa), yet we still go to some lengths to set the perfect conditions. This is called illusion of control, a widespread effect and the basis for most superstitions.

Some may say this is evidence (anecdotal as it is) that men and women of science believe in some sort of higher power (you know, the Hockey Gods). In a study done a few years ago it was shown that interest in sports correlated strongly with belief in sports superstitions, but not with scores on the Paranormal Belief Scale (PBS). Not surprisingly, scores on the PBS also correlated positively with beliefs in sports superstition. I don't know if the leap can be made that the superstitious sports fans here also hold belief in the paranormal, but I don't have time to address that - I have my pre-tissue culture ritual to get to.