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 Prize Winning Question!                                                                                      How do you make a potion that mutates things? - Arthur, age 8

10/2/2014

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Answered by a team of Scientists

Arthur, a heavy question. You must first understand proteins, amino acids and the majesty that is your, and yours only, double helix of DNA. It is a terribly complex, beautiful and unique ladder shaped structure of the blueprint that makes you... You.  A potion that would mutate this delicate structure could contain a host of things. Radiation, environmental factors, heredity and sometime spontaneous mutation.  

Personally I wouldn't drink such a potion or make one for anyone else. If I could mutate into anything, I might opt for a bird of prey or a dolphin. Although a dolphin in Sussex would stick out like a sore thumb. Start reading chemistry and biology books, dude. And get into some amazing science and the scientists who are making us better.  Find out what a cell is and what's in it. That's what you are made of. - Brad Gross

In genetics, a mutation is a change of the nucleotide sequence of the genome of an organism, virus, or extrachromosomal genetic element. Mutations result from unrepaired damage to DNA or to RNA genomes (typically caused by radiation or chemical mutagens), errors in the process of replication, or from the insertion or deletion of segments of DNA by mobile genetic elements. Mutations may or may not produce discernible changes in the observable characteristics (phenotype) of an organism. So, the use of too much antibiotics causes the normal bugs to be killed but the slightly abnormal to survive and become stronger and immune to the antibiotics. - Alex Nicholls

Arthur what a great question, this has got all the scientists on our panel having big discussions, not bad for a question from an 8 year old. It is a serious question which could be answered in a variety of ways. If you are into fiction you will know that Alice drinks two types of potion in Wonderland that makes her shrink and then grow again. In Harry Potter there are various potions that makes things mutate. The main one that Harry, Ron and Hermione use is called polyjuice potion. This is made from a variety of unpleasant and foul smelling ingredients but also includes something from the person you wish to mutate into. Harry and Ron manage to change into Crabbe and Goyle using a hair plucked from each one, to try and interrogate their enemy Draco Malfoy. However Hermione is not so lucky and accidentally transforms herself into a cat, after using a cat hair instead of a human hair. Of course Madam Pomfrey is able to return her to normal eventually.

However in real life potions or liquids that cause things to mutate are generally very unpleasant and worth avoiding. Mustard gas can come in liquid form. It is used in warfare, is easily absorbed into people’s bodies and attacks your DNA, causing lasting damage, cell mutation and even death. Cancer is caused by cells mutating and no-one would voluntarily take a potion that might lead to cancer, but there are lots of substances that are carcinogenic and thought to cause cancer to differing extents. However on a positive note, when doctors are helping patients with cancer they may give them liquids – to drink, or through injections, that help to stop their cells mutating and try and stop the body making new cancer cells. So that’s an anti-mutation potion that makes people better, or at least less ill. There are also substances, including liquids, that are mutagens. These attack the DNA inside your cell and cause it to mutate. These can cause illness and death, so not much fun. However there are no liquids that cause you to mutate completely into a different animal or object. At least not any we know about yet.

So if I was you I would stick to imagining the fictional ones that turn you into animals or other people. The real-life ones are all pretty grim. Having said that in a sense the answer to your question is yes – you can drink a potion that makes you mutate. However you wouldn’t want to and you may not survive the experience! - Lydia Samuel 

Well done to Arthur for a fantastic and thought-provoking question. He wins a signed copy of a book featuring Brad Gross from Blast Science!
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    Our team of Scientists...

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    Lydia Samuel  
    As Director
     of Blast Science and a Primary Science Teacher for more than 15 years, Lydia has answered unending questions about Science from hundreds of children for over a decade and has a wealth of Primary Science classroom experience. She has a particular passion for Wizard Science, Chocolate Science and all things Gross!
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    Tom Holloway
    ​is a Primary Science Teacher and Space Enthusiast. Alongside being a full time teacher he runs Star Gazing evenings, is a Science Advisor, has established a Darwin Garden in his school in Caterham and won Primary Science Teacher of the Year in 2013/14. Watch the video here!
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    Steve Evans
    ​has recently joined Blast Science as a performer after working for several years at Herstmonceux Observatory. He knows a huge amount about physics, chemistry, space and.... Star Wars! So can answer all your intergalactic questions..
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    Keita Lynch 
    has helped Sussex 'stay curious' by coordinating the Brighton Science Festival for three years.  She's passionate about sharing science in simple 
    and engaging ways; without all the big words. 
    Keita's also a keen supporter of campaigns 
    like Let Toys Be Toys that encourage toy makers and retailers to stop limiting children's imagination by branding things for 'girls' or 'boys'. Astronaut suits and dinosaurs for all!
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    Dr Sarah Newnham
    I am 26 and have a degree and PhD in biochemistry. I enjoy learning new things and have spent 7 years at university studying and experimenting with molecules and microorganisms. I mainly like to play with bacteria and get them to do new things and produce different chemicals.  I also enjoy helping with Science projects in schools and enthusing children about my subject.
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    Dr Matt Edwards 
    Dr Matt decided to become a doctor when he ran out  of his own scabs to pick. He used to work in Accident and Emergency in Brighton,  pulling broken bones back into place and sewing up cuts. He now works in Brisbane, Australia as a Family doctor. This involves cutting out lots of funny lumps and sticking his fingers in every hole that people have. In his time he has been covered in every body juice you can think of, and once juggled with three hearts. Ask him anything about bodies and Gross Science.
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    Jonathan Brown 
    (Engineer at Ricardo) Had a strange fascination with all things mechanical from an early age and would often spend time 'fixing' his Dad's car without telling his Dad first. Rarely did it end happily, so of course he decided to continue this into a career than now spans almost 2 decades of designing engines for big names the world over. Having studied Mechanical Engineering at university he has been working since at a world leading technology consultancy, principally creating models and simulations of engines big and small for everyone from McLaren to Volvo. These days you're as likely to find him on a ship or looking at a tidal turbine, but it's still engines that keep him running.
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    Ivan Teage
    Ivan is a experienced all-round scientist. He studied astrophysics after a childhood of being obsessed with going to the moon, and now works at the Natural History Museum in London using technology to explain Science to young and old audiences. Ivan is interested in the science of music and is keen to help people understand the natural world, how it works, and what it has to offer. He is looking forward to your questions about nature, space, music, sound & the meaning of life.
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    Alex Nicholls
    With A-levels in Pure Maths, Applied Maths, Physics and Chemistry he went to Uni to read Nuclear Physics, but in the end switched to Law. He nevertheless retained a great interest in Science and has an encyclopedic general knowledge about nearly everything. Alex is also the linchpin of the Blast Science props dept but helps out answering complicated questions about Science for light relief from complicated carpentry. 

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