Have you ever discovered something that no-one else has before?

Question: Have you ever discovered something that no-one else has before?
- Keywords:
  scientist life
Asked by e1la to Carla, Madgie, Nick, Vicky, Werner on 9 Nov 2013. This question was also asked by tillieissocoollike, gilberto99.
- Carla Turner answered on 9 Nov 2013:
  
  We hope to do this everyday! It is rare that scientists repeat something that someone else has already done.
  
  We like to find out new things. Normally it is just small things, like I recently found that increasing the pores on plants means they lose more water, but all these small steps can lead to very interesting results!
- Vicky Forster answered on 9 Nov 2013:
  
  Yes, most definitely. Most research scientists do a research qualification called a PhD, and part of the assessment for whether we are good enough to be awarded the PhD is that we have to have discovered something that nobody else has before, or at least looked at a subject in a different way to how anyone else has looked at it before. For me, it’s one of the best parts of being a scientist, knowing that I am doing things that nobody else has done before.
- Marlene Lorgen answered on 11 Nov 2013:
  
  As Carla and Vicky have said, as scientists we have the exciting task of discovering new things regularly. As part of my PhD work I have found 3 new genes in Atlantic salmon, 2 of which have not been found in any other animal yet!
  
  All our little discoveries will add up to something in the future!
- Werner Muller answered on 11 Nov 2013:
  
  yes, several times already. It feels great in particular if you had to send a lot of time and effort for your discovery.

Question: Have you ever discovered something that no-one else has before?

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