tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post1882043288533278377..comments2024-03-27T14:50:47.345-04:00Comments on <center>Sandwalk</center>: The Demise of the SquiggleLarry Moranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05756598746605455848noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post-3526899316854397522008-09-05T05:49:00.000-04:002008-09-05T05:49:00.000-04:00An interesting example was the number of genes in ...An interesting example was the number of genes in the human genome. Before the human genome project was finished there was considerable disagreement among scientists but, for the most part, that dispute never made it into the scientific literature.<BR/><BR/>There was a famous lottery but no real debate [<A HREF="http://sandwalk.blogspot.com/2007/03/facts-and-myths-concerning-historical.html" REL="nofollow">Facts and Myths Concerning the Historical Estimates of the Number of Genes in the Human Genome</A>].<BR/><BR/>Current examples include: (1) the importance and significance of alternative splicing, (2) the importance and significance of small RNAs, (3) evolutionary psychology, (4) the meaning of the Central Dogma, and many others. <BR/><BR/>In all these cases you would be hard pressed to find papers in the scientific literature that were as blunt and hard-hitting in their criticisms as some of those that have appeared during past controversies. This is in spite of the fact that there is considerable disagreement among scientists.<BR/><BR/>There seems to be a general trend toward being "nice" these days even if it means keeping our mouth shut when colleagues say really, really stupid things. The days when Francis Crick could stand up at a meeting and say "This is no place for amateurs" have gone.Larry Moranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05756598746605455848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post-46263905252680473502008-09-05T01:54:00.000-04:002008-09-05T01:54:00.000-04:00Our discussion began when we realized that the kin...<I>Our discussion began when we realized that the kinds of scientific debates that were common in the past are no longer occurring even though there are many controversies bubbling beneath the surface. </I><BR/><BR/>That's an interesting assertion. Do you have examples of modern controversies that are not currently subject to debate of the type exemplified by the squiggle / high energy bond?TheBrummellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08973380652057861796noreply@blogger.com