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Figure 1? Figure 1 is an amino acid alignment of the silk proteins from three species of orb-weaving spiders. Each letter represents a specific amino acid (building blocks of proteins coded for by 3 DNA nucleotides) and a gap (-) in an alignment means that the amino acid is not present in all species. By aligning the sequences by areas of similarity, one can start to figure out how well conserved a protein (or its corresponding DNA) might be.
Just eyeballing this from a bioinformatics framework, which is what I do all day, these sequences are fairy divergent (not conserved).
For what it's worth, and it's really NOT worth much, these diagrams could be made much clearer with better visualizers. A major problem with disseminating scientific data to the non-scientific public is poor visualization/communication. Part of my work is trying to show how this type of data can be presented clearly and logically to anyone, even grade school students. It's astounding what some graphic design can do.
You have a hunch about Tuesdays. Can hunches be right? Yes. Can 'statistically significant' differences lead one down the wrong path? Yes. Correlation doesn't equal causation.
This is a silly argument but ZF is technically right (sounds bad with the qualifier) when he says that there is NO difference in PR frequency with the given data. Everyone else is welcome to act on a small data set with some potentially interesting trends. With more PRs, the trend will either approach significance or not. P<0.05 is not how the world actually works. The impossibly unlikely has happened and the incredibly likely has failed.
For what my opinion is worth this is a semantic argument that has gone on too far. Want to act on PR Tuesday? Go ahead, but it's not real insofar as we know. Maybe you're a pioneer, or maybe you'll lose 0.05 shares because of it. I see that data and its imprecise.
Let's talk about the business and science and leave the pissing contest for the other iHub boards.
It was this week I think. And yes, it means nothing, all my stocks dropped the .pk moniker and this included some real stinkers that DEFINITELY aren't going anywhere.
Don't read into this. At all. It's bookkeeping.
Also, posted from the mobile app, so thanks to you as well!
Very, very much full of win.
Great!
I've been lurking around for quite a while, but it's good to be a more active member, and I hope I can contribute something more than layout suggestions :)
Congrats on post 44444! Make a wish.
One note about the iHub page that I haven't seen brought up (and it might be that I'm the only one that cares about it) is that the info on the top of the page is SO long that accessing this page on mobile devices (even good ones) or even on PCs with slower internet connections is labor intensive. I have seen other iHub pages where that information is expandable and contactable? Is that an option for the admins of this page?
I completely agree. Aside from printing a whole organism from scratch, which Craig Venter has teased us with, zinc fingers are the way to go. We're lock step on that. I agree that KBLB has the silk pathways understood as well, just saying that it's the combination of the two that make KBLB special (hopefully).
I'm cautiously optimistic about KBLB, erring on the side of overly confident but I'm a romantic, which is a dangerous thing to do with up-and-coming companies. I just play by the rule of only risk what you can stand to lose and then I can do my DD and invest in way that makes me happy, either through making money, or taking a chance on something great.
One of the things that I think this board could be great at, and that you personally help a lot with, is to stress how cutting edge some of this work is with respect to the details that KBLB does NOT overlook. When a company puts this much time and care into a project, it certainly appears to be a better bet that others that do the bare minimum, put out a flurry of prospective PRs, and then crash later.
I have not approached him regarding KBLB for no real reason other than I haven't felt the need to as of yet. I read the PNAS paper and liked what I saw with respect to the molecular biology, which is what I would ask him about if I did get some light exercise.
As I understand it, the '100% spider silk' issue isn't completely a matter of getting the gene insertions (which one can do, but may take a few shots) but is also a matter of proper incorporation into the substructure (which MonsterSilk shows us is possible, at least to some extent). The ZFN part of the research, actually inserting genes into specifically targeted areas, is something that I think KBLB has a really good grasp of. In my opinion, it's a combination of the microbiology and a firm macro-understanding of silkworm silk building pathways that will take us the rest of the X% once the genes are inserted.
If there are burning questions that aren't answered in either the PNAS paper and elsewhere on this board, I would be happy to try and get some answers, but I'm not volunteering myself, or more importantly Dr. Bogdanove to a litany of speculative questions. I don't think that's what you were implying by asking but I wanted to be explicit for the future.
Thank you for your contributions to this board, they've been really helpful!
The Cave-In is no longer. Campustown has a pretty high turnover of businesses, at least since I've been here. Nobody recognizes any places when they come back for VEISHEA.
I hope that KBLB can keep their level head about them and choose their partners wisely (as Kim said was his goal). I've seen so many small companies just pair up with anyone and sink. We've got a really cool, and unique product with applications that range so widely (as has been discussed here at length). Currently, I've been given no reason to fret, though I call nothing a sure thing. I think that the frustration with the silence stems somewhat from being 'spoiled' by other start-ups that PR every little thing. I appreciate the perceived maturity KBLB displays with their IR.
I'm at Iowa State University.
Dr. Bogdanove works two floors up from me.
I haven't worked with him on ZFNs or anything as my research keeps me plenty busy, but it's nice to know that I can supplement any of my questions with a few flights of stairs.
Just doubled up my position down here in the 6's. My first purchase was around the .10 range, and I wasn't worried about there, but I was happy to be able to recharge my position with the lucky coincidence of some fresh capital and low PPS.
I appreciate this board a lot, and while I have contributed sparingly and invest of my own volition, it's nice to see a board with less cutthroat attitudes and more legitimate debate/conversation.
I'm a molecular biologist studying gene regulation and how temperature can affect how genes are activated so I also appreciate the scientific discussions here as well. My university is actually a nice spot to be at for ZF modifications! We've got some pros.
GLTA
Gmail has a nifty phone feature for free VOIP. Works great!
Hey all, saw this and thought I'd drop it in. Just published (Not KBLB-related, but spider silk related)
Pop Sci Version:
Spider Silk Conducts Heat as Well as Metals
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120305132613.htm
Academic Version:
New Secrets of Spider Silk: Exceptionally High Thermal Conductivity and Its Abnormal Change under Streching; Advanced Materials
Adam Bogdanove works two floors up from me. He does some really cool work, and it's nice to see it noticed.
For instance, what was released just now in PNAS does not impress me...
What gets published in scientific journals is always months behind where the lab actually is at the moment. The company can PR things faster than they can get published (and in this case, they have). It can take 6 months or more (or less) to go from submitting a manuscript to publication. It's to the benefit of the lab, as then you can be 3 steps ahead of anyone trying to use your data as a jumping off point. You never want to be 'scooped', as it were.
Don't concern yourself with disparities between PRs and publications. They're just due to the nature of the respective beasts.
GLTA
You realize though that it's not a quote from an independent third party, and that MSLP puts that in every PR right? This isn't news, this is another paid endorsement with questionable return value. MSLP products get good reviews, and hopefully the doors don't shut on them, but this is more money out the window.
Wow, what's up today?
This is certainly a different pattern than we've been seeing. I don't see any updates or news anywhere to explain the volume burst...One big seller perhaps?
Wow...that Wall Street article was pure pump with absolutely no substance and today, AmericanBulls says Wait not Buy (http://www.americanbulls.com/StockPage.asp?CompanyTicker=MSLP&MarketTicker=OTC&TYP=S). I think MSLP can go higher eventually but not on no news.
Oh man, I have the Y! board on such a high ignore rate that there's weeks where I don't see any new posts.
Now what's this nonsense? Came up on Google Finance but not Y!
http://www.hotstocked.com/article/8661/biomagnetics-diagnostics-pink-bmgp-gearing-up.html
Hear hear!
Not at all. There are unaudited financials still out there, as well as questions about cash flow from other ventures (Chinese deals). BMGP needs to clean up their books have a firm agreement with one of these countries they talk about doing testing in. Until then, it's all just teasing.
GLTA
Nice upward movement on huge volume...looks nice.
Sorry for O/T as well...we all know what BMGP is waiting for though!
Hey man, I hope you're right. When I was looking at it in late 2010, it was the epitome of overbought and had I bought when it was being pumped, I'd have gotten killed.
I don't doubt the science or the applicability, so I hope their business smarts are up to snuff. Good luck to you.
I've been watching KBLB ever since JN started pumping it months back, and I'm glad I stayed out at that point. I don't see the commercialization happening with any sense or urgency. It's a company that is tied to a university, and when that happens, you get a more scientific (versus business) approach to production. Cool project, scary stock. Good luck.
I like this PR for BMPG along with the video, I just hope someone other than us sees it.
I have no idea how to interpret this part of the 10K honestly. This particular phrasing is lost on me. But here's the part of the 10K regarding returns:
The Company has an informal 7-day right of return for products. However, there were nominal returns in 2010 and 2009. During 2010 and 2009, the Company had the following concentrations of revenues with customers:
Customer 2010 2009
A 42% 20%
B 12% -%
C -% 19%
D -% 14%
E -% 13%
Timing is important information to consider. You absolutely raise some valid points, and it's important to step back from knee-jerk reactions and be fair. I think the 10-K was negative, no doubt about it, but it wasn't AS negative as my original opinion.
GLTA
Honestly, it's holding up better than I expected.
The market reaction to this might be scary.
Thanks Lex!
A ratio that a lot of people have been talking about:
Sales for 2010: 4m
Advertising for 2010: 7m
For every dollar they spent on advertising, they got back $0.57 in sales. Yikes. I doubt advertising costs are going to go down in 2011, so let's hope sales go up.
Another juicy tidbit:
On December 22, 2010, the Company became involved in a business dispute with a manufacturer, seller and distributor of their product line (the “manufacturer”) regarding their respective obligations. The parties settled their dispute in private mediation. As a result of the settlement, the Company agreed to pay $425,000. The Company issued 511,509 shares of common stock having a fair value of $100,000 (See Note 9(B)). Although stayed by court order, case will not be officially dismissed until May 21, 2011, after the Company satisfies the settlement with the manufacturer.
Don't bite the hand that feeds boys! You're nothing without your product!
And lastly, salaries:
They have quite a high opinion of their worth.
////////////
Thoughts: 4m sales in 2010, and a predicted 1m in sales in January 2011 would be a really nice bump, when we see confirmation of that. Maybe the $7m in advertising CAN slow down now that they have established a customer base and gotten their name way out there. That's a real possibility as I am NOT a business man, but I do know that you have to spend money to make money. I'm okay with that. If the 1Q2011 results show a change in that ratio (advertising/sales) then I think this company will be heading in the right direction, monetarily. I think THIS is the exact reason why we needed to see this 10k though. They can talk about sales all day in PRs and get sponsorships and things, but when the Advertising:Sales ratio is nearly 2:1, then those sales are merely partial debt converters.
I hope 2011 is a better year like people think it may be.
Here's to hoping you're right!
There's so much wrong with all of that it's crazy. For them to post that they have until 5:30 and then not file...wow. And double wow to those that think that Q1 sales are more important than Q4 total numbers. That really goes to show you who is invested here. Hell, half the people on Y! think the numbers coming out 'today' are Q1 so it's really an odd situation. I've never experienced this level of 'from-the-gut' kind of investors in a stock before and the only explanation I can find is that, for the investors that are chatting on Y!, FB, and iHub, there's a disproportionate amount of MSLP users that bought some stock because they like the product and don't understand business. I'm no business expert, I'm a flippin' geneticist, but the willful ignorance of some is astounding.
Some people invest, some people gamble. I do hope we all make money, but I hope the investors make $5 more for their trouble.
PS. I wasn't picking on you with my post. I just think the personal attacks need to stop entirely to get this board back on track so while I know your post wasn't directed at me, it's affecting my experience here. That's not your problem, but I just wanted to explain that. As for the spelling, if it was in a normal sentence I wouldn't care, but in the context of an insult to someone else's intelligence it just reminded me too much of this guy :)
Couldn't help myself. Peace.
You're barking up the wrong tree with me, haha.
I think MSLP has a great product (better than the average penny) and really good brand recognition (WAY better than the average penny). They're in good shape there!
file an extension
THAT they didn't even do. The last two times, they filed the extension and had the report out 2 weeks later. This time, they're just late. No extension. No excuse.
I think MSLP could have gotten this done if there was someone in head office with a little more business sense to complement the current managements really great sense for the supplementation market.
Your an idiot
A) Personal attacks are unwarranted and don't help.
B) You're.
C) MSLP > Personal squabbles, can we try?
big kahunas
That's exactly where we disagree, and it's okay that we do! 'Big kahunas' shouldn't equal turning a blind eye to bad business practices. 'Big kahunas' are for when a company may or may not get FDA approval or if a firm may or may not sign a big client. Those are the kinds of things I WISH MSLP was dealing with. The problem right now is that even if things were great, there's no transparency, and no feeling that those in charge know how to run a business.
But seriously, I really don't want to fight with you. It's counterproductive and it's now while I'm here. If you disagree with something I post for some logical reason, I'd be happy to have a discussion with you anytime. Otherwise, just assume I'm not posting to you and I'll assume you're not posting to me. We can all live happily ever after on this board if people stop taking things so personally. It's just bit-ness.
Not trying to scare you. I like MSLP too. I like them on the product/marketing end. But you have to realize that the business end is what makes or breaks a company, right? Even with amazing sales and a product, bad financials limit your upward mobility. It's just about disclosure, and we don't have it. I play in pennies all the time, I know about risk. Risk, however, should not equate to people giving the company more slack than it deserves.
If you can logically defend a company late filing a 10-K with a known due date, I'd love to hear that. I'm not insulting the entire company (product, marketing, image, etc). I'm questioning their ability to run a business, everything else ignored.
Well James McDonald, we all invest our money with different expectations. If you don't think missing an SEC deadline says much about the management potential of this company, then fine. You're a happier person than I am right now. But for the rest of us that would like to see a return on our investment, it's little clues like this that let you know that maybe, for as good of a product as they have, the people just can't run a profitable and SEC-compliant business.
You take your batch of chill pills and just...chill. We're discussing a stock that we own and want to know more about.