Subject: Re: all in the name of science
Date: May 26 14:52:26 1998
From: Maureen Ellis - me2 at u.washington.edu


Folks,
The scientific method is the simplest strategy we marginally-sentient
humans have to try to figure out what is real and regular in the universe.
Since we are clearly the smartest, largest, most mobile, and
destructive species on this planet (be relieved that ants are not
bigger!), it is in our (and every other living thing's) best interest to
determine the "laws of the universe," especially the fundamental
mechanisms of LIFE.

At this stage of our knowledge and technology, our life models for testing
sometimes MUST be at the level of relatively sophisticated species such as
the rat, the cat, the dog, the 'lower' primate, and others. We are doing
better and becoming more efficient in our research, particularly in the
development of mortal (vs cancer cell lines) cell and tissue culture. We
need another 100+ years of life research to develop computer models
good enough to predict biomedical therapies for any number of
diseases/injuries in both human and in our many companion/zoo/wild
species.....AND to manage---or leave alone---intact ecological community
structures for all non-human life.

I am finding that in my middle-middle age as a biomedical scientist
for some 35 years now that I am GRATEFUL to be able to use a cell culture,
rather than a whole animal, model for my molecular biology/environmental
toxicology research. However, until about three years ago, the most
realistic model I could use to study some issues of metal (such as
mercury, lead, cadmium and other stuff with which WE contaminate our
soil, water, air, and HOMES) toxicity was a laboratory rat, my partner
species in the search to counteract environmental toxins.

We are evolving and must evolve in order to become more compassionate and
thoughtful. No amount of 'fringe' resistence to our innate curiosity,
intelligence, exploration drive, or sense of wonder will stop our
evolution except one thing: We kill ourselves off because of our
mistakes. Acquiring knowledge through systematic testing may be a rough
road, but it does produce a necessary validity in the characterization of
potential mistakes.....hopefully to be able to avoid them. We must allow
ourselves to refine our methods as we can determine that our results get
us closer to understanding what is real and regular in the universe.
There ain't no "goin back to the woods" for us, and there never was!

Maureen Ellis me2 at u.washington.edu Univ of WA and Des Moines, WA

"Finding the occasional straw of truth awash in a great ocean of
confusion and bamboozle requires vigilance, dedication, and courage."
-Carl Sagan-