Yes, that is Nintendo's iconic mascot, recreated in a petri dish out of magical glowing bacteria. This piece of biological retro nonsense was created by researchers from the University of Osaka, who genetically manipulated the bacteria to radiate fluorescent proteins and carotenoid pigments, which are science words that I don't want to understand.
Science we may not know, but we do know silly gimmicky videogame references, and that's certainly what this is. Yes, these scientists could be curing cancer instead of doing this, but if I had to choose between a world free of disease or a world free of glowing bacteria Marios, I'm afraid all those little bald kids are on their own.
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Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize.
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Contest:
8:00 AM on 12.19.2009
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I lol'd and will await all the idiots who will soon take you way to seriously.
This is awesome. I bet the people who are funding them shat a brick when they saw what all their money was turned into.
these scientists could be curing cancer instead of doing this, but if I had to choose between a world free of disease or a world "FULL" of glowing bacteria Marios
Now if only they could bring it to life and make it stomp things.
Even if apparently the experiment would kill you.
But then we really gotta ask ourselves, if we manipulated his brains, is he still volatilis or is he somenthing else?
Keep sucking on those twinkies colossus.
Also, can you please point me in the direction of the 'cure' for obesity? Other than locking you in a box of course.
@Jim- Can't say I disagree with you on that.
Btw, these bacteria are not wholly useless, nor do they appear to be designed just to draw Mario the Elder with. Stuff that glows (or reacts in a visible but harmless way) like this can be useful in endoscopy and such practices if they are cued to react only to certain thresholds of temperature, presence of X substance etc.
Unfortunately, your only option is that life-threatening brain synapse stimulation. Still, keep reaching for that rainbow. Maybe one day science will develop a safe cure for people with your affliction.
@volatillis
HA HA HA HA HA
I kinda have to side with Jim on this one. You couldn't read the quite obvious sarcasm laced throughout the statement that "Yes, these scientists could be curing cancer instead of doing this..."
So, that would mean that you couldn't figure out that the point of his joke was that they not only could, but should be finding the cure for cancer so that people wouldn't have to suffer as they do. It only makes his defense sound much more plausible, as while he may be the resident fat guy, you look like the resident dipshit that couldn't take the time to read S L O W L Y.
Also, trolls.
It seems like he practically lives his life to make fun of ole' Jim now. Even when the post gives him no meaning to.
Truly, he is a Tard among men.
and this is awesome.
Here's some science; getting bacteria to express proteins is actually pretty useful. Although the fiddly bits are different, if you can shoehorn glowing jellyfish protein into the little guys, you can use it for all sorts of poop. This is probably only a few hours work to actually get the Mario up and growing anyway.
If Jim wants to make fun of them, then he best be prepared to take it also. If he can't take it, my advice is, don't write it. I am happy to listen to all rage at me for telling the truth. So feel free.
@JIM btw those are treatments you mention Jim NOT CURES. You can't CURE a fat person as FATNESS is not a disease. In the future, perhaps, with gene therapy, but NOTHING exists right now to cure it. FACT. Who's a moron now?
I see you still haven't nailed the principle premise of a joke yet. Don't worry, you'll get it. Keep trying!
..geared for kids.. Ha ha ha HA!
By the way, Destructoid ain't geared towards children. Well, maybe except for you.
Yawn.
Sorry, unlike you I'm not hitting refresh every thirty seconds so I can't instantly respond to your inane drivel.
It's okay to make jokes about anything. There's a difference between a joke and a sincere attempt to hurt or upset somebody on a personal level. You seem unable to tell the difference. Luckily, smart people actually can.
I did not miss the joke, just thought it was inappropriate.
So yeah, it actually IS helping to cure cancer....indirectly of course :P