Genomic Diet
Corby Kummer’s article, “Your Genomic Diet” (August 2005), did a superb job of distilling this exciting post-genomic technology into terms that nonspecialists could understand. I wanted to point out, though, that lunasin is a protein component of soybeans and not, as you report, an isoflavone, which is a small-molecule metabolite. Both of these components of soy, however, reduce cancer risks in cell culture, small laboratory animals, and humans. Despite this error, Kummer’s message is a good one: your genetic profile could be the key to knowing what to eat.

Alfredo Galvez
Davis, CA


Casino-Friendly Technology
Your article on blackjack sensors (“The Digital Pit Boss,” August 2005) neglects to mention a huge advantage that this technology would confer on the casino by enabling it to efficiently spot card counters – players who track expended cards and adjust their bets depending on whether the remaining deck is “rich” or “poor” in critical aces and tens. A good card counter can tip the house’s .45 percent advantage to a player advantage of between .25 and .50 percent. Giving the casino the power to track betting patterns will put the truly skilled player out of business.

Sean Sebastian
Pittsburgh, PA

Abused Substances
I enjoyed “Abused Substances” (August 2005) in defense of the drug Ecstasy. MIT’s Jerome Lettvin should pen a rebuttal! He thrashed Dr. Timothy Leary on the subject of LSD in their famous 1967 debate at MIT. Now that was a trip!

Barney C. Black
Falls Church, VA