Stingy Scientist
Honorable Mention
¨ 1966, Australia
Dr. Jack Barnes, of Cairns, Australia, failed to halt the spread of his own
mad scientist genes, but his survival wasn't due to a lack of effort on his
part. In 1966, Barnes was hot on the heels of the source of a mysterious
illness called Irukandji Syndrome. Sufferers endure excruciating back
pain, sweating, and nausea. He suspected that the source of the illness was
a tiny marine creature, so he set about finding it by sitting on the
seabed for hours, wearing a weighted diving suit.
Note the outstanding Darwin potential already demonstrated!
However, fickle finger of
fate did not yet beckon. Instead it rewarded him by revealing the source of the illness: a minute
jellyfish, its bell measuring only one inch across. It was at this point
that the Doctor's latent Darwin potential, already hinted at, was unleashed
to its full (and nearly fatal) potential.
There are many toxic jellyfish off the coast of Australia. Our dedicated
scientist knew he must test his hypothesis that this gelatinous creature
was toting the particular venom that causes Irukandji Syndrome. And how
best to go about this?
He chose the most expedient method available: he stung himself.
Foolish? Yes, but the good Doctor was not done yet. To reach truly dizzying
heights of Darwinian grandeur, one must ensure that one's deficient DNA is
entirely removed from the gene pool. Dr. Barnes had already sired
an heir, and so there was only one thing to do...
He stung his 14-year-old son as well!
Despite this truly outstanding effort to place the continued existence of
the Barnes lineage in mortal peril -- alas, it wasn't to be. Dr. Barnes,
his son, and the nearby lifeguard whom the good Doctor also introduced to
the joys of Irukandji Syndrome, were all rushed to the Intensive Care Unit
of a nearby hospital. All three survived.
As a final twist, not only will the mad scientist's genes live on, but so
too will the family name: the jellyfish was named Carukia barnesi in the intrepid scientist's
honour! Reuters
Vote!
|
[ 
¨1980s, South Carolina 
