tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211371452778645597.comments2023-07-15T04:39:59.759-07:00Genomics, Medicine, and PseudoscienceSteven Salzberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16549957293973146438noreply@blogger.comBlogger1559125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211371452778645597.post-71925996248121844542018-01-16T19:29:30.336-08:002018-01-16T19:29:30.336-08:00Note: I have disabled commenting on this blog. For...Note: I have disabled commenting on this blog. For the past 2 years, the majority of commenters have been spammers, most of them promoting quack treatments and bogus cures of one sort or another. I am tired of deleting all this spam. If you have a comment that you really wish to see here, you can send it to me via email (I'm not hard to find) or you can comment on my Forbes blog, which mirrors the content here.Steven Salzberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16549957293973146438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211371452778645597.post-79442488911804349872017-11-08T22:27:09.524-08:002017-11-08T22:27:09.524-08:00The spore is not the premise of the show. It is ra...The spore is not the premise of the show. It is rather literally a plot device. I think your background as a biologist is causing you to hyperfocus here. A materials scientist could be equally appalled by the idea of dilithium(how could somethings molecular structure somehow enable it to withstand being bathed in high-energy gamma rays??)but this is just as beside the point. The premise of the new show as a whole might be said to be something about, war, regret, redemption, the cultural Other or whatever. It sure ain't science.Chris Bonnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00928862715207098318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211371452778645597.post-52899586720712523462017-10-30T06:44:07.811-07:002017-10-30T06:44:07.811-07:00True, true. But the problem with the new series is...True, true. But the problem with the new series is that the very premise of the show - the purpose of the ship Discovery - is based on biological errors. Spock's copper-based blood (for example) was a peripheral matter.Steven Salzberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16549957293973146438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211371452778645597.post-13476032186133931122017-10-30T06:35:05.340-07:002017-10-30T06:35:05.340-07:00There's lots of problems with Star Trek Discov...There's lots of problems with <em>Star Trek Discovery</em>, but bad biology had *always* been a problem in Star Trek. <br /><br />1) The original series established that Spock 1) had copper-based blood like a mollusk as Vulcans apparently do 2) was half human. How can humans and Vulcans have viable offspring? Even ignoring the blood issue, how would their genetics be anywhere near compatible?<br /><br />2) The movie "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock" suggested that the clone of Spock created by the Genesis Device would have all the memories of the original Spock. Obviously, cloning doesn't work that way.<br /><br />Science has never been the purpose of Star Trek -- at its best, it is really talking about current society using SF metaphors to get people to think beyond their own political biases.<br /><br />Jonathan Badgerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04921990886076027719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211371452778645597.post-57127054537094764892017-07-22T13:27:44.491-07:002017-07-22T13:27:44.491-07:00While I in no way support her woowoo claims, the h...While I in no way support her woowoo claims, the human body does have a (resonant) frequency and there has been <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9306739" rel="nofollow">a study</a> on it.Tonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05055767588775335860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211371452778645597.post-91995462372706735982017-06-12T05:33:47.237-07:002017-06-12T05:33:47.237-07:00Apple couldn't resist allowing passengers in t...<em>Apple couldn't resist allowing passengers in the car to override the do-not-disturb mode, which I think is a pretty terrible idea</em><br /><br />I don't drive. But I use public transit daily and cabs/ride sharing weekly. I know I'm a minority in this respect in the US, but one that isn't all that tiny in cities (and a demographic that seems to be growing as younger people are actually moving to the cities rather than suburbs these days). While I have little interest in texting myself, I certainly use during computing e-mail and other features on my phone, which is practically a laptop in power nowadays. It would be absolutely essential for me to disable this feature and what would be "terrible" would be if I couldn't.Jonathan Badgerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04921990886076027719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211371452778645597.post-44025561784901577982017-03-31T00:05:17.024-07:002017-03-31T00:05:17.024-07:00Hi Steven,
My name is Anuj Agarwal. I'm Foun...Hi Steven,<br /> <br />My name is Anuj Agarwal. I'm Founder of Feedspot.<br /><br />I would like to personally congratulate you as your blog Genomics, Medicine, and Pseudoscience has been selected by our panelist as one of the Top 60 Genetics Blogs on the web.<br /><br />http://blog.feedspot.com/genetics_blogs/<br /><br />I personally give you a high-five and want to thank you for your contribution to this world. This is the most comprehensive list of Top 60 Genetics Blogs on the internet and I’m honored to have you as part of this!<br /><br />Also, you have the honor of displaying the badge on your blog.<br /><br />Best,<br />AnujTanvihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10130850099135062525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211371452778645597.post-10452996265756617642017-03-22T06:38:09.052-07:002017-03-22T06:38:09.052-07:00The thing about crazy people, they do things for n...The thing about crazy people, they do things for no good reason.<br />Www.robert-w-jones.comrobertwilliamjoneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00304056794122667878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211371452778645597.post-33540834995994681612017-02-14T01:14:38.678-08:002017-02-14T01:14:38.678-08:00A winner in last year's Wildlife Photographer ...A winner in last year's Wildlife Photographer of the Year addresses this issue. Would make a good billboard.<br /><br />http://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit/wpy/gallery/2016/images/the-wildlife-photojournalist-award-single-image/5118/the-pangolin-pit.htmlNeilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14642902803329530119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211371452778645597.post-59634877592495132842017-01-30T10:24:57.542-08:002017-01-30T10:24:57.542-08:00Thanks for posting this list.Thanks for posting this list.Wilmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14717012784233946753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211371452778645597.post-87486062954474202122016-12-30T14:24:29.494-08:002016-12-30T14:24:29.494-08:00Thank you. At a minimum, can one acknowledge the ...Thank you. At a minimum, can one acknowledge the benefit of the deep relaxation that can be experienced in an energy healing session, which is the opposite of the tension and stress that current medical research acknowledgea is so detrimental to health?Cathy Burton Crockernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211371452778645597.post-11200324489892742182016-11-24T07:00:36.651-08:002016-11-24T07:00:36.651-08:00Science is not value free. You are making a value...Science is not value free. You are making a value judgement in deciding to read this blog rather than a comic strip. The problem with alternate medicines, religion,and our elections is that human values aren't what they should be. A few simple drives and aversions is all that many people have to work with. Many of us don't do things that are "evidence based." Www.robert-w-jones.comrobertwilliamjoneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00304056794122667878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211371452778645597.post-56641965345304907812016-11-23T07:17:10.384-08:002016-11-23T07:17:10.384-08:00That label isn't entirely serious. However, th...That label isn't entirely serious. However, the labels on actual homeopathic products are wildly misleading.Steven Salzberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16549957293973146438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211371452778645597.post-71783827150024791882016-11-23T07:07:03.682-08:002016-11-23T07:07:03.682-08:00The label reads like propaganda. "Well establ...The label reads like propaganda. "Well established and tested science and logic indicates it will not". Seriously? "Well established and tested" by whom? Are we going to test every snake oil product out there? The label invokes "logic" and "science" as magic words to ward off evil homeopathic spirits. In other words, it makes the creator of the label look just as kooky as the homeopaths.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211371452778645597.post-36366468110132533842016-10-17T16:36:21.578-07:002016-10-17T16:36:21.578-07:00I wish more people could hear this side. It seem...I wish more people could hear this side. It seems to be drowned out by proponents. I can't believe I'm the minority in any group when it comes to acupuncture, chiropractic, cupping, etc...I have a chronic illness and it makes me genuinely angry when I see people selling this idea to fellow sufferers.mickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06989795470609806426noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211371452778645597.post-71835986238853993622016-10-08T21:59:22.384-07:002016-10-08T21:59:22.384-07:00What's not mentioned is how much the govt woul...What's not mentioned is how much the govt would save if it was entirely decriminalized and didn't have to pay to incarcerate non violent users anymore. Eric MDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04822078905068963097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211371452778645597.post-37370621799637375392016-10-01T08:30:16.358-07:002016-10-01T08:30:16.358-07:00So the best thing to do now is to wash your hands ...So the best thing to do now is to wash your hands and sanitize in some other way. I always have this small pack of sanitizer in my bag but now that I'm aware of this, I might as well stick to water and soap instead. I should say rubbing alcohol but it may have the same effect as of those with sanitizers. <br /><a href="http://www.trustessays.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.trustessays.com/</a> <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211371452778645597.post-72656298902137649522016-09-29T12:33:29.893-07:002016-09-29T12:33:29.893-07:00What is "little bit obese"? You show tha...What is "little bit obese"? You show that even Grade 1 obesity ups the risk. <br /><br />I also think it should be mentioned more often that "normal" BMI covers a range of 30+ pounds. I, personally, a short female, could gain 20 pounds without changing my BMI. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211371452778645597.post-77042061943477261232016-09-22T02:17:23.675-07:002016-09-22T02:17:23.675-07:00!!!!!!WilliamKinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11551278829221366384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211371452778645597.post-27240836670304518722016-09-12T09:33:01.363-07:002016-09-12T09:33:01.363-07:00Steve - great article - what about the use of tric...Steve - great article - what about the use of triclosan in suture? Ethicon is heavily marketing their PDS Plus and Monocryl Plus - which are triclosan treated -'antibacterial' suture. I found the following from a couple of years ago that was very critical of it -<br />Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine 2015, Vol 22, No 3, 551–555<br />ORIGINAL ARTICLE www.aaem.pl<br />Comparison of antibacterial-coated and non-coated suture material in intraoral surgery by isolation of adherent bacteria<br />Klaus Pelz1<br />, Ninette Tödtmann2<br />, Jörg-Elard Otten2<br />1 Institute for Microbiology and Hygiene, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Freiburg, Germany<br />2 Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany<br /><br />As well as on ResearchGate.net<br />The researcher posed the question - and the 6 responses were that triclosan in sutures was just a pricey gimmick. In light of the FDA ban on soaps - I wonder if this will/should affect the view on suture? Imagine Ethicon marketing fluff or worse and charging a lot of money for it!<br />Simon Weiner<br />Cleveland, OH<br />MedcareProducts.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04271580940927490987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211371452778645597.post-73779579791125622062016-08-01T18:13:56.780-07:002016-08-01T18:13:56.780-07:00I had the same question. Church has made some stat...I had the same question. Church has made some statements about it but he is still on the board. Apparently he's on dozens - if not hundreds - of advisory boards, so he can't possibly pay attention to most of them.Steven Salzberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16549957293973146438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211371452778645597.post-17005868911688347672016-08-01T09:59:43.044-07:002016-08-01T09:59:43.044-07:00What I don't get is why George Church hasn'...What I don't get is why George Church hasn't distanced himself from BioViva and is still on their advisory board (at least according to their website).Jonathan Badgerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04921990886076027719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211371452778645597.post-26239300597960935202016-07-24T20:53:37.057-07:002016-07-24T20:53:37.057-07:00Lyme disease presents a huge challenge for patient...Lyme disease presents a huge challenge for patients and physicians. The symptoms of Lyme are nonspecific and overlap with many other disease conditions. The most successful way to approach Lyme disease includes multiple methods of treatment and an open mind. See more <a href="http://survival-mastery.com/med/health/lyme-disease.html" rel="nofollow">http://survival-mastery.com/med/health/lyme-disease.html</a><br />Ahamedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16941590433247270275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211371452778645597.post-84647706091575395702016-06-21T01:53:43.341-07:002016-06-21T01:53:43.341-07:00Really wish doctors could find the best medicines ...Really wish doctors could find the best medicines possible.Nagumanthri Lakshmi Baihttp://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/global-regenerative-medicines-market-industrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211371452778645597.post-16011020596074865222016-06-18T19:32:55.103-07:002016-06-18T19:32:55.103-07:00This post reminded me of a piece of astronomy hist...This post reminded me of a piece of astronomy history. Tycho Brahe collected the most accurate and comprehensive set of astronomical observations to date in the late 16th century, but then misinterpreted them as support for an Earth-centric model of the solar system. Later Kepler reanalyzed the data to describe his famous and accurate laws and of planetary motion. I suppose Kepler is a research parasite, but that is a good thing. And it should comfort the data gatherers of the world that Brahe's technical achievement in taking such accurate observations is still appreciated today.Jeremyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16703637221595896439noreply@blogger.com