Sean,
Interesting that you mention blogging on the topic. I posted on my blog
about Governor Palin earlier this evening and received a most
interesting comment regarding my being a socialist scientist as I
supported government funded basic research that did not directly effect
national
@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU
Sent: Wednesday, October 29, 2008 6:09 PM
Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Palin laughs at fruit fly research
A large part of Sonia Altizer's work uses monarchs and their parasites as a
model system for host-parasite coevolution in general. (For example, why
don't parasites always
Why chain ourselves to economic importance of a species as a barometer
on whether we should conserve it? Granted, economic importance is a
good boost for conservation of some species. However, it sure isn't the
only reason to conserve something.
Jason
Paul Cherubini wrote:
Jason L Kindall
On Oct 29, 2008, at 9:36 AM, malcolm McCallum wrote:
The fact of the matter is that basic research must be in place before
applied research can utilize that information. Until American society
as a whole understands what research is and why it is important, these
kind of simple-minded attacks
to know that Palin has at least one soulmate in the scientific
community.
Bill Silvert
- Original Message -
From: Paul Cherubini [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU
Sent: Tuesday, October 28, 2008 8:43 PM
Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Palin laughs at fruit fly research
Perhaps
at fruit fly research To:
ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU I didn't know anyone measured the quality of
basic science research in such a manner. Applied scientific research,
maybe, but not basic scientific research. Dave Paul Cherubini
wrote: David M. Lawrence wrote: What's frivolous about
I think there's a role here for us as individuals to reach out to our
friends and family. Maybe for those of us celebrating, this Thanksgiving
would be a good chance to say, 'I'm thankful we live in a country that can
afford to fund basic scientific research, and here's why...'. My immediate
Migratory monarchs may exist in all 48 states, but they tend to follow
specific migratory paths (flyways) -- unless you choose to ignore the
mark-recapture data obtained from migrating monarchs over the rest of
their range.
Monarchs do not breed in their overwintering sites, therefore as
My mother worked for Dr. Novee at Argonne National Laboratory in their
search for the nutrino. One day, she asked why it was important. He
said something to the effect of, right now we don't know what it will
be good for, but we can't use it if we can't find it.
So it is with most knowledge.
As someone who has done basic research on butterflies with some NSF
support, I'm grateful to those who have come to its defense in this forum.
But as someone who also does research on tephritid fruit flies, I note
that Gov. Palin's criticism of fruit fly research in Paris, France
appears to
A large part of Sonia Altizer's work uses monarchs and their parasites as a
model system for host-parasite coevolution in general. (For example, why
don't parasites always evolve to become harmless if their existence depends
on their hosts?) This, of course, includes human pathogens. So, even if
As a recent college graduate I have had the privilege to learn the
importance of model organisms in scientific research. I understand the need
for small genomes, fast generations, and prolific reproduction. I
understand this though only because I majored in biology. Now considering
that I am
The fact that Gov. Palin laughed off this line of research isn't
surprising. After all, Sen. McCain had his go at bear research, and
that was a large charismatic mammal project.
The political implications alone are troubling. The larger issue in my
mind is that this is a real reflection of
Palin gave a policy talk in which she ridiculed fruit fly research... which
is of course provided foundation of modern genetics. Now this does not
really surprise me for a creationist, but it does not bode well for science
funding should they get elected.
This has a clip:
It did not surprise me that Sarah Paulin laughed at fruit fly research.
Trofim Denisovich Lysenko did the same in the last century.
Adolf Ceska, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
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