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Nature 444, 264 (16 November 2006) | doi:10.1038/444264a; Published online 15 November 2006

Open Innovation Challenges

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Charmed, I'm sure

Trevor Stokes1

  1. Trevor Stokes is a freelance writer in New York City.

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What makes the perfect protein purification or the right reagent reaction? Trevor Stokes investigates the weird world of good-luck lab charms.

Daniel Nelson was getting desperate. His graduate thesis at the University of Georgia, Athens, depended on his ability to isolate periodontain, an enzyme from the bacterium that causes gum disease.