Larry's molecular biology project

This project involves "... the growth and purification of a particular virus," Larry wrote in September 2000. "We are interested in isolating a protein located at the surface of the virus.  It's this protein that first makes contact with the host membrane, fusing ... with the membrane of the virus. [Then] the nuclear material (RNA) is infused into the host, and the virus replicates its form within. 

"The exciting part is to posit, and then verify, a piece of reality by fitting reproducible experiments. [Success can seem] close at hand, and then [turn out to be very] far off as a result of ... unexpected complications, either from the nature of the bug itself, or as a result of technical problems.  [For example], a leak of CO2 in the incubator -- which is required for cell (host) growth -- could wipe out the cell line...."