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Con Men in Lab Coats [how science corrects itself]
Scientific American ^ | March 2006 | By the editors

Posted on 03/05/2006 10:14:03 AM PST by PatrickHenry

Five decades after it was revealed as a forgery, the Piltdown man still haunts paleoanthropology. Now, thanks to the disgraced stem cell researcher Woo Suk Hwang, cell biology has a high-profile scandal of its own to live down. Few recent papers in biology have soared as high in acclaim as Hwang's 2004 and 2005 announcements of cloning human embryonic stem cells -- or plummeted as fast into infamy with the discovery that they were rank fakes.

Embryonic stem cell (ESC) research is no less promising today than it was before Hwang's deceit was revealed; most investigators continue to believe that it will eventually yield revolutionary medical treatments. That no one has yet derived ESCs from cloned human embryos simply means that the science is less advanced than has been supposed over the past two years.

Still, Hwang has badly sullied the reputation of a field that already has more than its share of political and public relations problems. Some longtime opponents of ESC research will undoubtedly argue that Hwang's lies only prove that the investigators cannot be trusted to conduct their work ethically, and the public may believe them. This is one more crime against science for which Hwang should be ashamed. (A minor footnote to this affair is our removal of Hwang from the 2005 Scientific American 50 list; see the retraction on page 16.)

In recent years, fabricated data and other fakery have been uncovered in work on materials, immunology, breast cancer, brain aneurysms, the discovery of new elements and other subjects. As the volume of publication rises, fraud will probably rise with it. Because of the growing financial ties between university researchers and corporations, not to mention the jockeying for leadership among nations in high-stakes areas such as stem cells, some scientists may feel more pressure to deliver results quickly -- even if they have to make them up.

These affairs have something in common with the Jayson Blair and Stephen Glass scandals that not long ago rocked mainstream journalism: all these scams exploited the trust that editors extend to submitting authors. The editors and peer reviewers of scientific journals cannot always verify that a submitted paper's results are true and honest; rather their main job is to check whether a paper's methodology is sound, its reasoning cogent and its conclusions noteworthy. Disconfirmation can only follow publication. In that sense, the Hwang case shows how science's self-correcting mechanism is supposed to work.

Yet it is important not to brush off the Hwang case as a fluke without considering its lessons for the future. For instance, Hwang's papers had many co-authors, few of whom seem to have been party to the cover-ups. But what responsibilities should co-authors have for making sure that papers bearing their names are at the least honest?

We should also think hard about whether Hwang's deceit went undetected for months because so many scientists and science journalists wanted to believe that ESC research was progressing rapidly, because that would hasten the arrival of miraculous therapies and other biomedical wonders. Extraordinary results need to be held suspect until confirmed independently. Hwang is guilty of raising false expectations, but too many of us held the ladder for him.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: crevolist; fraud; research; science; stemcells; woosukhwang
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To: Tribune7; King Prout
"What you are demanding in that post is the privilege to make a derogatory claim (i.e. a group is a bunch of liars) then be exempt from any challenge "(a request to ask for specifics) shall be malicious."

You refuse to examine the evidence of creationists lying when we provide links, then you accuse us of not providing evidence. Either look at the evidence or admit you are too scared to. Your hand-waving away the evidence is getting boorish.
401 posted on 03/06/2006 5:43:58 AM PST by CarolinaGuitarman ("There is grandeur in this view of life...")
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To: Virginia-American
Good grief, I'd heard that *scientists don't know why bees can't fly* story my whole life, as have most other people I know.

I'd guess that perhaps the extra long nerve could perhaps provide some *give* to it, the same way a coiled cord (like the kind the dentists have for their drills-shudder) would. But I'm no expert in giraffe neck pyhsiology. My point was mainly that while it makes sense that ID would perhaps have done it differently for efficiency, if someone goes on the assumption that everything was intelligently designed and it doesn't make sense, then there is probably some reason for it that hasn't been discovered yet. I guess that's where the *faith* part comes in; I believe that God did it and trust that He had a good reason for making it as it was even though it makes no sense yet.

402 posted on 03/06/2006 5:44:15 AM PST by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: metmom
"My point was mainly that while it makes sense that ID would perhaps have done it differently for efficiency, if someone goes on the assumption that everything was intelligently designed and it doesn't make sense, then there is probably some reason for it that hasn't been discovered yet. I guess that's where the *faith* part comes in; I believe that God did it and trust that He had a good reason for making it as it was even though it makes no sense yet."

So, when we see something excellently designed, it's ID. When we see something poorly or ad hoc designed, it's ID. Very convenient. Perhaps it is faith, as you say. That means it isn't science.
403 posted on 03/06/2006 5:46:34 AM PST by CarolinaGuitarman ("There is grandeur in this view of life...")
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To: King Prout

Maybe it's the *multi-potential* aspect that's the key. Perhaps it just gives time for the cells to specialize and provide a greater variety of uses for the cells? I'm out of my element here so it's only a guess. I changed from a Bio major long before I would have got into that kind physiology.


404 posted on 03/06/2006 5:51:54 AM PST by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: Tribune7
Take your image of a mouse, put it next to the image of a fish at the same stage of development and see if viewers can't readily tell them apart.

Since no one has attempted to identify anything in my photo montage, I think I'm beyond that. I have a good variety of vertebrates.

405 posted on 03/06/2006 5:53:18 AM PST by js1138
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To: CarolinaGuitarman
And how did it change the meaning in that particular paragraph?" You made it look like Darwin didn't have an answer when he did. The link to Chapter 6 of Origin of the Species

The paragraph:

In looking for the gradations by which an organ in any species has been perfected, we ought to look exclusively to its lineal ancestors; (CAN'T DO THAT) but this is scarcely ever possible, and we are forced in each case to look to species of the same group, that is to the collateral descendants from the same original parent-form, in order to see what gradations are possible, and for the chance of some gradations having been transmitted from the earlier stages of descent, in an unaltered or little altered condition. (CAN'T DO THAT) Amongst existing Vertebrata, we find but a small amount of gradation in the structure of the eye, and from fossil species we can learn nothing on this head. In this great class we should probably have to descend far beneath the lowest known fossiliferous stratum to discover the earlier stages, by which the eye has been perfected.

In other words, he can't show the evolution of the eye via the means he would have preferred.

He has to go to brachiopods to make his theory work.

406 posted on 03/06/2006 5:54:20 AM PST by Tribune7
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To: Tribune7

The second (Can't do that) has no basis in the text.


407 posted on 03/06/2006 5:59:55 AM PST by CarolinaGuitarman ("There is grandeur in this view of life...")
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To: CarolinaGuitarman
You refuse to examine the evidence of creationists lying when we provide links,

I did consider the evidence and even agreed with you on some points. But the link you directed me too led to Talk Origins not to anything on FR.

Now, I'm inclined not to call people liars when I debate. Wrong, yes, but it seems rather pointless to try to determine intent which is required for a lie.

If I did accuse someone of a lie, I'd certainly be able -- and willing -- to back it up.

408 posted on 03/06/2006 6:01:08 AM PST by Tribune7
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To: CarolinaGuitarman
Very good. So we agree the first one does.

I'll spell the second one out for you again.

we are forced in each case to look to species of the same group, that is to the collateral descendants from the same original parent-form, in order to see what gradations are possible, and for the chance of some gradations having been transmitted from the earlier stages of descent, in an unaltered or little altered condition. Amongst existing Vertebrata, we find but a small amount of gradation in the structure of the eye, and from fossil species we can learn nothing on this head.

In other words, he is forced to look to "species of the same group" to see the possibility of "some gradations having been transmitted from earlier stages of descent" and finds "but a small amount".

409 posted on 03/06/2006 6:06:03 AM PST by Tribune7
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To: Tribune7; King Prout
"I did consider the evidence and even agreed with you on some points. But the link you directed me too led to Talk Origins not to anything on FR."

Yes, you refused to look at the evidence provided. I never said that I was going to show Freepers lying. I said creationists, in particular the leaders of the movement. Pointing out freepers lying can get me banned, as you well know. I am sure that is the point of your request; we are not going to bite. So you can either look at the evidence we DID provide, or you can run away too afraid to examine it.

" If I did accuse someone of a lie, I'd certainly be able -- and willing -- to back it up."

I did.
410 posted on 03/06/2006 6:07:24 AM PST by CarolinaGuitarman ("There is grandeur in this view of life...")
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To: Tribune7

Incorrect.
The sequence was as follows:
1. you demanded, of others, repeatedly (#229 et alia), to be given exact citations of in-thread mendacity.
2. at post #235, I set forth specific parameters with implicit questions (which "ifs" you have not as yet answered), then explained that meeting your challenge would violate the specific command of the Mods, and finally laid down a set of two logical if-then statements concerning your issuing that challenge - raising the *possibility* of your malice, not making a positive assertion thereof.
3. You then heckled (#299) without addressing the ifs, without asking for confirmation of the Moderator command, without refuting the logical statements, and included a rather petty insult (paranoia)
4. At post #303, I refuted your heckling and insult, asserting that it has indeed been the creo side who have engaged in the three forms of specified behavior - the behaviors you have yet to confirm constitute "lies" under the terms of your challenge. I also set forth a third logical if-then statement, noting the apparent limited option set between a) your illogic, and b) your mendacity.
5. at #305 you responded with "ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
6. at #310, I indicated that such insubstantial response was "typical"
7. at #12, you posted yet another bandwidth-waster: a tinfoil hat jpeg, with the text "Ready for the creationist conspiracy"
8. at which point, #326, the duckpond-in-winter jumped in with a definition of paranoia. This led to a brief spate of the two of you caressing each other's egos in public in a most unseemly manner.
9. I interrupted your mutual admiration fest and responded to the both of you with a slightly annoyed brief of the situation (#341) and note concerning the continued insubstance of your entries.
10. to which the both of you have now at this point replied. This post forms a terminus to the direct reply to your #392, 396, and 400. There is no need to detail the remainder of duckpond-in-winter's contributions, aside from noting that in that dialogue the Mod's will was verified.

so - there above is the *actual* sequence.
It bears little resemblance to your characterization of the sequence ("You say people are lying. I ask where. You say you can't tell me and that I'm part of some malicious plot for asking. LOL.")

If you cannot address implicit questions, debate clear logical sets, or even keep straight the sequence of posts in a hypertext forum conversation in which you have been directly and significantly active, why should I or *anyone* take *you* seriously?

I no longer shall.
good day.


411 posted on 03/06/2006 6:08:43 AM PST by King Prout (many accuse me of being overly literal... this would not be a problem if many were not under-precise)
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To: Tribune7

"In other words, he is forced to look to "species of the same group" to see the possibility of "some gradations having been transmitted from earlier stages of descent" and finds "but a small amount"."

In other words, he can, though it is difficult. The creationist claim that Darwin had no answer to the eye and was upset about it is classic misspeak.


412 posted on 03/06/2006 6:09:41 AM PST by CarolinaGuitarman ("There is grandeur in this view of life...")
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To: PatrickHenry
Thou shalt not have a thread of admiration posted on DU? A new commandment?
413 posted on 03/06/2006 6:15:31 AM PST by VadeRetro (Liberalism is a cancer on society. Creationism is a cancer on conservatism.)
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To: metmom

I see nothing in the head and neck which *requires* gill-slits for their eventual formation.

I do not see why gill-slits would be needed in the tissues destined to be head and neck, but not needed in the tissues destined to be thorax, abdomen, or limbs.

and, again - efficiency + special creation wouldn't have side-tracks, but would instead go directly to the human body pattern immediately after the layer separations.

if efficiency is taken out of the Given, then no problem with special creation and gill slits. I have no issue with the creator being prone to whimsy. however, efficiency was stipulated by Red, so...


414 posted on 03/06/2006 6:20:05 AM PST by King Prout (many accuse me of being overly literal... this would not be a problem if many were not under-precise)
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To: VadeRetro; PatrickHenry

given the timing, that seems more probable than not.


415 posted on 03/06/2006 6:26:19 AM PST by King Prout (many accuse me of being overly literal... this would not be a problem if many were not under-precise)
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To: edsheppa
Ed, your answer was still an evasion of the topic.

Embryonic stem cells are not considered potential revolutionary cures and adult stem cells are considered much more likely to be of use.

Why do you evade the actual topic?

416 posted on 03/06/2006 6:45:49 AM PST by tallhappy (Juntos Podemos!)
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To: CarolinaGuitarman
Circle the wagons I see.

Keep it in the cult I see.

Get real, henry linked to the post on this thread otherwise I wouldn't have known about that specific comment.

Earlier he and some others went forward trying to support Haeckel's ideas about embryos.

This gets surreal.

417 posted on 03/06/2006 6:53:10 AM PST by tallhappy (Juntos Podemos!)
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To: CarolinaGuitarman
I never said that I was going to show Freepers lying.

That's whom I thought you were accusing of lying, and I doubt very much showing that a Freeper is lying would get you banned. I can see, however, that accusing a Freeper of lying without being able to show such might get you in trouble.

Concerning Talk Origins links. What I scanned appeared to much, if not mostly, ad hominem. It shouldn't be taken seriously

418 posted on 03/06/2006 6:54:04 AM PST by Tribune7
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To: Virginia-American
makes no sense as an intelligent design

Why would this no sense in intelligent design?

419 posted on 03/06/2006 6:56:24 AM PST by tallhappy (Juntos Podemos!)
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To: tallhappy
"Circle the wagons I see.

Keep it in the cult I see."

No, I felt it was only right to let those you were belittling know your actions, as you didn't have the courage to let them know yourself.

" Get real, henry linked to the post on this thread otherwise I wouldn't have known about that specific comment."

You have provided no evidence of any comment. I'll take Ichneumon's word over yours.

" Earlier he and some others went forward trying to support Haeckel's ideas about embryos."

Prove it.
420 posted on 03/06/2006 6:57:12 AM PST by CarolinaGuitarman ("There is grandeur in this view of life...")
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