A Purpose for Disaster

Did you know that DNA Polymerase both catalyzes the synthesis of DNA molecules and repairs strands? I know! How interesting! Does this fact play into your life at all? What about if 99% of the world's population died? 


That was the thought that struck me as my professors monotonous voice droned on through the lecture. What knowledge would be important if I were one of the few people left on this planet? So I started making a list:
  1. Know how to find food at any time of the year
  2. Know how to grow food at any time of the year
  3. Know how to build a very well insulated shelter both in the wilderness and in the city
  4. Know how to deliver and raise a child
  5. Make a list of potential natural disasters in your area and have plans for how to survive each
  6. Know how to produce energy
  7. Make hard copies of survival information in case you can't recover electronic data
  8. Invest in very secure, very durable electronic data storage
  9. Know how to repair said data storage
  10. Know how to communicate across long distances
  11. Know how to speak a few phrases (greetings, locations, etc.) very well in a number of widely spoken languages.
  12. Know how to set up automatic communication recordings so people can pick up the information
  13. Know common diseases and how to survive them
  14. Know plant and animal diseases and how to cure/avoid them
  15. Know how to not go insane when alone for an extended period of time.