Like Entomology, the whole DNA sequencing thing is not really my bag. Fortunately for me an import from across the world makes my 7-to-4 (not 9-to-5) bag a little lighter, and I refer to this laboratory phenomenon as the “Malaysian Invasion”. Visually, this movement is contained within a 6′, tan Malaysian male with Chinese ancestry. He is distinguished from others with a similar appearance by his almost permanent smile and the constant use of “my freeeeennnn” while speaking. If you experience this invasion, do not be alarmed. You will probably enjoy the encounter and want to be his “fren” in no time at all.
A few weeks back I made a smart-alecky comment brought about from our usual banter, and his retort was, “You are a stinky, big, fat weilder who smells like metal!”
Confused I asked, “What’s a weilder?”
“You know, w-e-i-l-d-e-r…he has a thing (makes torch motion) and metal and builds stuff…like the girl in the movie that danced…there was water…you know, a weilder.”
“Uh, a welder?”
“Yeah, that’s you and you stink like metal!”
Through the laughter, I managed to squeeze out “Sometimes you are a goober. Seriously. You are such a weirdo, a big, stinky weirdo who smells…weird.”
A few days later I was again reminded why he makes genetics a little more tolerable when a storm caused all the machines in the lab to lose electricity. The power outage affected our centrifuge by stopping his run of the initial 3-minute spin required for Big Dye purification plates. Since there was no way to tell exactly how long the plates had been in the machine, I suggested throwing them away rather than risk affecting his sequencing results. He noted how much water had been collected in the plate reservoir with, “Hmm, should be okay.”
I voiced my skepticism by saying, “You’re pretty brave, kid. But I guess they’re your plates.”
“Have faith my fren. It will be okay because I am stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive…I, I, I, Iiiiii”m stayin’ alive,” was the lyrical Bee Gee inspired reassurance he cheerily sang to me. All I could do was laugh and tell him how weird he is.
Maybe one day it will sink in, but hopefully not any time soon.
