When science is paradoxical: to the nature of the issue: a case study of the biological papers

When the science is "green" — to "nature" magazine printed on "evolution on the" related papers, for example laugh at the "evolution of commentators" Darwin and Wallace's cartoon.

By the journal nature of early article, we can read many of the "evolution" of misunderstanding. The journal nature has published the latest scientific papers, have a powerful influence; while looking back to 1869 to 140 years of history, will find the journal nature itself is nearly a half century of scientific development. Therefore, foreign language teaching and research press publication of sub-theme is a live recording of "science."

The Centennial scientific page〈 nature > classic "first volume included in 1869 to 1930, the journal nature between classic article, while the second volume included in 1931 to 1933 classic articles.

Comparable to the thickness of the two, but the time span between clear, can see the scientific development of many interesting details. Scientific frontier has always been in the dark, no predecessors bold guess, tentative explanation, or even the wrong conclusions, it is not possible to have our today; but today's cutting-edge scientific papers in the decades after looks sure will give the "Thunder" feeling. Here, we take the Darwinism and genetics, for example, from the journal nature on a selection of articles as a slide show, take a look at the process of advancing science and hard.

1 magazine

Wallace said "eye"

1859, Darwin's surprise da "the origin of species".

10 years after the founding of the journal nature. In the first issue of the journal nature, is published by Darwin's thesis of the winter flowering plant fertilization, but does not involve the evolution theory. In the same issue of the magazine, has published a Darwin's supporters Wallace's "origin of species" the war. This article is Murphy (JosephJohnMurphy) of scientific papers on the habitsand intelligent, and material and force of law in the relationship of comments. And Darwin is Murphy's "Adaptive" theory. Murphy believes that all living things are "smart" sensation, perception and reflection on the function of organs should originate from the "intelligent" activities of the organization. He cited as an example, consider the eye eyes so complex organ is not possible to form only through natural selection. Murphy said: "unless the lens material and perfect curvature at the same time, otherwise, any method can improve any lens performance of equipment."

Wallace in article rejects that view.

He wrote: "this is totally wrong, if one lens focal length is too long or too short, we can change the curvature or changing density make lens performance improved. If curvature irregular lead light cannot be aggregated to a point, so anyone can make curvature become rule method can improve the performance of the lens. " He went on to say: "once the embryonic form of the eye, then in those of light and colour with a keen perception of nerve in more spontaneous mutation may make the eyes of the micro structure favourable to change. " So, eyes entirely possible generated by natural selection.

140 years later, still it was the evolution of the "eye" as a refutation of Darwin's evidence.

In fact, in the inaugural issue of the journal nature, this problem has already been said.

2 misunderstanding

Cousins "compete"

In 1871, published in issue 3 of the natural law, published by Darwin wrote the functional hygiene "(Pangenesis).

At that time, the biological genetic testing has not been lifted. "Biological evolution of how genetic" become inseparable from on round.

Darwin's hypothesis, somatic cell produces "micro-Bud" (gemmules), and genital mutilation in fertilization before collects this kind of "micro-Bud".

Each individual cells will future generations of characters in the "vote". "Micro-Bud" on the body's repair also has a role. This shows the "Pan Sheng theory" is an ambiguous language translation, a more accurate translation should be "systemic decisions reproductive theory." Now we know that determines biological next generation characters of factors (genes) exist in both the somatic and reproductive cells. It does, and spouses of gene mixed, decided the next generation of characters. Why Darwin's "theory of the" functional hygiene has it.

In order to prove that the "functional hygiene on the authenticity of", Darwin's cousin Galton (FrancisGalton) made an experiment.

He through blood transfusions and cross loop approach two rabbit blood mixed. If the body of the "micro-Bud" really and reproduction, then the rabbit is likely to give birth to blend two rabbit characters of future generations, the result is failure. Darwin believed that Galton's experiment intended to argue his point of view, in the article "If Mr. Galton can prove higher animal reproductive material contained in blood, separated only by the reproductive glands or clustered, so he is made a very significant physiological findings. …… But so far, although the ' functional hygiene on ' exposed the many weaknesses, ... I have reasons to defend it. "

In the same year published in no. 4 on the natural law, Galton responded that he did not deny the cousin of the great doctrine of the mean, he just misunderstood "functional significance of health".

Finally he half ironic tongue-in-cheek tone that human language always give rise to misunderstanding, he made a mistake big brother's Decree "long live the best pan Sheng on."

3 misinterpretation

The "strong man" does not continue?

Published in 1871, phase 4 of the general nature of the publication of an article on a new look at Darwin 's.

It has obviousComedy. Communicator Henry · Horst (HenryHoworth) in recognition of Darwin's theory, put forward their point. He said: "natural selection has been summarized as a continuation of the ' strong, ' ' the strong survive '", but cattleman know, if you do not let the Ewe, mother pigs and cows remain weak, they do not breed.

"Nature" magazine put the horse's letter to the of Darwin and Wallace.

Their letter published in the same period.

Darwin said he would ask Mr. Martín Torrijos, see myself writing of the animals and plants under domestication, "volume 2, this horse will find increased for food and other reasons vary due to sterility.

But the very pointedly Wallace pointed out that the continuation of the "strong man" is misinterpretation of pure Darwin, Darwin did not say any of this mean.

In fact, Darwin has been said that "the survival of the fittest." "Strong" just a number of different helps in the struggle for survival in strength and ability. Tiny body, dark color, agile, protection, cunning, blooms, rotting flesh or bad odours, have any of these features that can be used as a "continuation" down. What's more, livestock obesity and "powerful" also had nothing to do, so use the "sterile" obesity to refute the "fittest" is completely beside the point.

4 leap

We say "gene"

In 1928, Morgan confirmed the chromosome is the carrier of genetic material.

Thus, in the 1930s, "gene" and the discussions in the chromosomes of the journal nature on lively.

The distance to Watson and Crick proving a DNA double helix structure there are more than 20 years of time, for genes still in the trial State, therefore, the scientists a lot today seems to be interesting right and wrong.

In 1930 total no.126 of the natural law, Pearl Chak (g.l.purser) in the Embryology and evolution of the article suggest assumptions: biological development like "automobile assembly line", the embryo is finished in a matter of all parts and materials, and the ge

ne is a worker. This assumption seems quite right today. But the Pearl Chak in genetic material and environmental relations still cling to the confused ideas, think "genes must be in appropriate environment appears before the". In fact, the natural variation in genes and environmental factors are irrelevant. But the external environment, such as X rays sometimes evoked gene variation, then people have observed this phenomenon, "La Marxist" last supporters McBride (e.w.macbride) then the author says, accessible through the x-ray radiation insects to artificially generating gene, gene is "external appearance to the mutation of gametes injury", natural selection on this exception only response is to clear them.

On the relationship between chromosome, gene has been in the scientific community after burning.

1953, 25 April, the United Kingdom in the journal nature published by Watson and Crick's study results: DNA double-helix structure of molecular models. The concept of the hearts of the people, Darwin, Mendelian theories and gene science to form strong enabling new Darwinian theory.

New thematic interviews reporter Liu Zheng