PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
Traditionally, proposed molecular mechanisms of fundamental biological processes have been tested against experiment. However, owing to a plethora of reasons-difficulty in designing, carrying out, and interpreting key experiments, use of different experimental models and systems, conduct of studies under widely varying experimental conditions, fineness in distinctions between competing mechanisms, complexity of the scientific issues, and the resistance of some scientists to discoveries that are contrary to popularly held beliefs-this has not solved the problem despite decades of work in the field/s. The author would like to prescribe an alternative way: that of testing competing models/mechanisms for their adherence to scientific laws and principles, and checking for errors in logic. Such tests are fairly commonly carried out in the mathematics, physics, and engineering literature. Further, reported experimental measurements should not be smaller than minimum detectable values for the measurement technique employed and should truly reflect function of the actual system without inapplicable extrapolation. Progress in the biological fields would be greatly accelerated, and considerable scientific acrimony avoided by adopting this approach. Some examples from the fundamental field of ATP synthesis in oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) have been reviewed that also serve to illustrate the approach. The approach has never let the author down in his 35-yr-long experience on biological mechanisms. This change in thinking should lead to a considerable saving of both time and resources, help channel research efforts toward solution of the right problems, and hopefully provide new vistas to a younger generation of open-minded biological scientists.
摘要：
传统上,提出的基本生物过程的分子机制已经过实验测试。然而,由于太多的原因-设计困难，执行,解释关键实验，使用不同的实验模型和系统，在广泛不同的实验条件下进行研究，竞争机制之间的细微差别，科学问题的复杂性，以及一些科学家对与普遍持有的信念相反的发现的抵制-尽管在该领域进行了数十年的工作，但这并没有解决问题。作者想规定一种替代方法：测试竞争模型/机制是否遵守科学法律和原则，并检查逻辑错误。这样的测试在数学中相当普遍，物理学,和工程文献。Further,报告的实验测量不应小于所采用的测量技术的最小可检测值，并且应真实反映实际系统的功能，而无需不适用的外推。生物领域的进展将大大加快,采用这种方法避免了相当多的科学争论。已经回顾了氧化磷酸化（OXPHOS）中ATP合成基础领域的一些例子，这些例子也用于说明该方法。这种方法从未让作者在他35年的生物学机制经验中失望。这种思想上的转变应该可以节省大量的时间和资源,帮助引导研究努力解决正确的问题，并希望为年轻一代思想开放的生物科学家提供新的前景。
