Dear Jabberwock,

Thank you for a most insightful and amusing Sticky Wicket (

). I agree that there is much evidence regarding the potential “death of the hypothesis” and wonder if the selection methods being applied to so-called Emerging Cell Biologists (ECBs) might be somewhat responsible. There is an obvious pressure to publish in quantity, and it is clear that generating observational papers is more rapid than those difficult (but important) functional ones. Given that many grant reviewers and tenure committees often appear to judge applicants by weighing CVs, this would seem to select against `hypothesis testing'. Additionally, the risks of hypothesis testing are greater for those on the tenure track than those who are well established, as it is safe to say that the majority of hypotheses are disproven (if tested thoroughly, rather than supported by observations). It is ironic that those in perhaps the most creative phase of their careers have to balance big risky projects with more `safe' observational work. Furthermore, the acceptance of controversial ideas (or papers) by journals from ECBs is likely to be resisted by the established in the field whose ideas are being challenged - yet more disincentive to do hypothesis testing.⇓

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Sincerely

Caledonian Caveman

Dear Cal-the-Caveman,

Indeed, the unnat ural selection of ECMs by quantity as opposed to quality is a serious problem for the survival of the hypot hesis. In fact, I think it has some of the hallmarks of an infectious disease. Despite swallowing many herb al remedies and alternative potions, I still find myself flicking to the CV page of a grant before reviewin g it properly. However, there is always hope. I believe we should fight to retain the person-to-person `sit e visit' and tenure interview systems, and to extend these where we can. These sorts of mechanisms might no t allow us to depose those ECBs with fat CVs, but they do offer the opportunity to identify the real scient ists and support them.

Jabberwock