Monday, July 07, 2008

What's that, Skip?


Red Kangaroo
Originally uploaded by Thirty6Red.

It is a well-established fact at work that I am a princess (well-established, that is, in the minds of Mero and Biggsy) but they also know that I am a big nerd.

I have just finished reading "Chasing Kangaroos" by Prof Tim Flannery, Australian of the Year 2007 and former Director of the South Australian Museum. The book explains the evolution of the kangaroo and how the changing Australian flora and fauna contributed to the kangaroo's current appearance and habitat. Far from being a text book, Prof Flannery takes a more Bill Bryson-ish approach to the narrative so I really enjoyed it.

But of course I mention this reading material to Mero today and she just stared at me, blankly. I read her mind. "I know, I know," I said, "I'm such a nerd". And then she said something that completely floored me.

"Did you know that earlier this year scientists mapped the platypus genome?".

I could have hugged her. And I probably would have, if I'd only known what the heck she was talking about.

We nerds have to stick together I guess.

5 comments:

glamah16 said...

Say What?

Anonymous said...

Genome comes from the Aussie word "Gemma". It is proof that I am everywhere and everything.

Bow to me.
Bow low.
(how low can you go...ohh I just love Grease)

Anonymous said...

GENOME ...isnt that a small dwarfy type character with pointy hat and odd colourful clothing and likes hanging around amongst the garden shrubbery..???

Unknown said...

I am obviously adopted.

Anonymous said...

"What's that Skip ... the helicopter has crashed in the south paddock .... cripey jimmenys Skip, go back to the farm and get help" .... don't write stories like that anymore .... it's an ozzy thaanng.