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In a nutshell, Weinstein alleges that the breeding programs used by suppliers to produce lab mice and rats result in animals with artificially long telomeres as
by RodgerTheGreat 4y ago
In a nutshell, Weinstein alleges that the breeding programs used by suppliers to produce lab mice and rats result in animals with artificially long telomeres as a side-effect, which makes them behave very differently from most mammals in response to a variety of drugs and treatments. Furthermore, presumably because this could conceivably invalidate the findings of decades of research, he alleges that journals and academics collectively turn a blind eye toward (or even blackball) anyone who attempts to sound the alarm with respect to this procedural flaw. If his premises are true, it would represent a ticking time bomb for the biological science research community not unlike "replication crises" faced by e.g. human psychology researchers.
- gadflyinyoureye 4y agoFortunately he had diverging options on Covid. Therefore he was blackballed from the larger scientific community. Unless and until he repents, he shan’t have publishing access to the Holy Journals
- svnt 4y agoGenetically limited strains of inbred lab animals and some of their peculiarities are a known problem. Weinstein may have a point here but he is only unique in trying to use it to stir up controversy and undermine science in general. One specific very inbred strain of mouse accounts for something like three quarters of all mouse experiments.
- tsol 4y ago>Weinstein may have a point here but he is only unique in trying to use it to stir up controversy and undermine science in general. By the way I'm understanding it, sounds perhaps like he may have a point? If the majority of tests are performed on genetically limited breeds, then it would seem that more people ought to be looking into this
- svnt 4y agoMy point was that if he is right, many people are aware, but exploring it (or something similar) more quietly. This is because if it is not the case, it is not helpful to inflame the system until they can prove it. There are many potential issues with lab strains beyond genetics such as microbiome, developmental processes, nutrition, etc.
- tsol 4y agoAh I see what you mean now, that does make sense.
- dekhn 4y agoWe know there are serious problems with highly inbred rats, but I don't think it's "long telomeres" (solely or even at all) that is the problem.