Scientists rename human genes to stop Microsoft Excel from misreading them as dates (The Verge)

[Grey Havoc]

Somehow missed or forgot about this at the time. From back in August 2020:
https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/6/21355674/human-genes-rename-microsoft-excel-misreading-dates

 

[Archibald]

"How I stopped worrying and learned to hate the guts of Excel". When the formulas work, it is pretty useful. But screw just one space, and carnage begins.

 

[Snowboardax]

This cracks me up—scientists renaming genes because Excel keeps turning them into dates. I had a similar headache last month trying to track some lab results in Excel Templates and Spreadsheets for a small project. Every time I typed something like “SEPT1,” Excel freaked out.

 

[publiusr]

Great--now biologists will wind up being "Swatted:"

And after that, use CRISPR to do away with Charlie, now replaced by Trevor--

"FREEZE! Police! Drop the pipette and back towards me!"

That's the third time this week--cut it out, Todd.

CRISPRobot: " Now cutting Todd from main sequence."

No!

 

[martinbayer]

This cracks me up—scientists renaming genes because Excel keeps turning them into dates.

I *TRULY, MADLY, DEEPLY, ABSOLUTELY* hate that so-called Excel *feature* that really is an utterly monumental bug as well...