Texas floods may have destroyed work

Houston-In the aftermath of Tropical Storm Allison, which sweptthrough Texas in early June, researchers at the Texas Medical Center arekeeping their fingers crossed that at least some tissue and bacteria samplessurvived the storm that left up to 35,000 laboratory animals dead, accordingto Associated Press.

"Everyone is just so upset," Dr. Christopher Smith, head veterinarianof the University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center, says.

About 4,700 animals and countless tissue and chemical samples at thecenter were destroyed when the center flooded, AP reports. Nearby BaylorCollege of Medicine lost more than 30,000 laboratory mice, some of whichhad been specially bred over a period of years to meet scientific needs.In addition, researchers lost temperature-sensitive tissue and bacteriasamples in freezers that may have failed during the power outages.

At Texas, Smith reports that certain behavior studies had years investedin them. "Students no longer have their theses. Scientists have beenput back I don't know how many years."

Damage across the city is estimated at nearly $1 billion. The storm hasbeen blamed for at least 20 deaths in Texas and Louisiana.