Question: There was an article on the TV a few weeks ago about fighting Multiple resistant bacteria (MRSA etc) using bacteriophages. How far advanced is this process and is it a viable option within the environment of the body (compared to the simpler environment of a test tube)?

bacteriophages have been known to scientists for some time. We actually often use them in our own experiments to control gene expression. but as you said monkeyboy, this is in a closed controlled system, not in the human body which is very complex.

Whilst I believe there is great potential for bacteriophages as treatments, I think we have a very bg hurlde to jump before we will be able to provide any phage treatment to humans. and that is that the bacteriophage work so well because they inject DNA into the bacteria. Humankind tends to not be fond of anything that modifies DNA for fear it will run rampant and change DNA where it shouldn’t. The same fear is what has been holding back genetically modified food sources from being released to the public.

At the end of the day, no matter how many tests we do to prove phage are safe for human use, there will always be very vocal people who believe they will kill us all if we let them loose in humans, and those people have a rather annoying tendancy to be heard and conviince other people to believe them without looking at the evidence to the contrary.

I sincerely hope I am wrong, and that mankind becomes less afraid of what is new, and more trustful of strong scientific evidence.