I haven’t written a flashback blog in a while and while catching up on my TV shows, I found a great example. A recent episode of the TV show The Good Doctor (ABC) showed how zebra fish can help find the best antibiotic? for human diseases.
The episode titled, “Mutations,” during season 3 episode 12 written by Liz Friedman and Tracy Taylor, the story line featured a patient who had a genetic mutation and the only way to treat it, was to find the 1 out of 41 possible drug that worked best with his genes. In order to speed up the process, the medical team used zebra fish — which have 70 percent of human genes — to test which drug would be the best match with the fewest side effects for the patient. The episode actually featured a scene with a room of fish tanks full of zebra fish!
What I really loved about this episode was that it brought the medical research laboratory to the audience. It wasn’t just scientists doing research in some secret lab in the basement, we got to see the fish and had a glimpse of what the world is like.
This idea has hero and villain ideas written all over it!
What if an icthyologist (someone who studies fish) reaches out to a geneticist to find a cure for his child’s genetic condition?
Or
What if room full of zebra fish are being used to create the next pandemic?
Or
What if a kid’s science fair project about zebra fish catches the eye of a medical researcher with good or bad consequences?
Who wants to talk more about how you can use this idea in your current or next story?
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