Mistranslation? Awkward. Surprisingly, it was a classic mistranslation after the Franco-Prussion War that prompted the acceptance of biosafety. Now, we keep dangerous pathogens locked up tight! And their identities might surprise you…

Depending on the biosafety level, lab techs might wear special ventilation suits or even decontaminate their clothes. But these extreme measures are only used against the world’s most dangerous viruses and bacteria. Shockingly, protocols for the infamous new coronavirus aren’t as strict as they are for dangerous space rocks!

Written and recorded by Brenna Biggs.

References:

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   Ahern, H. Biosafety Practices and Procedures for the Microbiology Laboratory. Milne Library (Retrieved 2020).

   
   
   
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   Biosafety Labs: What Are Biosafety Labs? National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (2011).

   
   
   
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   Biosafety worldwide: Historical Background. Belgian Safety Server (2020).

   
   
   
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   Ullmann, A. Pasteur-Koch: Distinctive Ways of Thinking about Infectious Diseases. Microbe Magazine (2007).

   
   
   
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   What Is considered a Level Four Disease? Aftermath (2017).