One of our readers managed to unearth an unbelievable bit of scientific history and we are able to provide it to you thanks to his generosity. With no further delay we present....
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All credit, and my gratitude for the LOLz goes to Donn Young who describes the source of his re-creation as follows:
Long ago and far away [like the 1970's], I read an article in the old Journal of Irreproducible Results [JIR] that had a copy of Gregor Mendel's pink sheets. I have no idea who the author(s) was and I can no longer find the issue [or much else], but have this rewrite I put together using the 90's review criteria. I'd hand it out [on pink paper] to junior faculty as encouragement in the face of an unscored application - but hey, Mendel didn't have to worry about tenure.Donn Young
Research Scientist and Director of Biostatistics [retired]
Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center
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Comments
Obviously, he must send in the A1 and try to "peas" the nasty reviewers.
Posted by: Beaker | February 22, 2010 9:36 PM
Thank you Donn Young and DM...love it! :D
Posted by: Dr. O | February 22, 2010 10:47 PM
Unfortunately, the American Taxpayer expecting big tangible progress from the science they are funding doesn't find the lack of real progress satirized by the Mendel critique amusing.
Posted by: whimple | February 23, 2010 9:01 AM
The two of you made me laugh out loud this morning.
Whimple- I suppose the American tax payer doesn't understand that lack of progress in terms of one application doesn't mean you won't eventually end up being the foundation of a given field.
Posted by: drdrA | February 23, 2010 9:37 AM
Yes, you're right drdrA. Even though they triaged his -A0, I'm sure Mendel's -A1 will get a fundable score. :P
Posted by: whimple | February 23, 2010 9:49 AM
Sorry DM, this kind of humor is beneath the level most scientists today demand for relief from the hardships of doing scientific research ( http://scienceblogs.com/isisthescientist/2010/02/the_science_game_thats_sweepin.php ). It may also explain the demise of the JIR.
Posted by: Anonymous | February 23, 2010 10:17 AM
Disappointing. I was expecting 2 more critiques and 10 more minutes of rolling on the floor laughing.
Posted by: Gummibears | February 23, 2010 4:50 PM
Imagine the (hypothetical since he wasn't trying to do it) one Roentgen would have gotten for xrays.
Posted by: antipodean | February 23, 2010 5:08 PM
He probably would have gotten dinged for his "lack of mechanistic insight".
Posted by: whimple | February 23, 2010 7:48 PM
@anonymous 6 - JIR has been (for many years) extant as AIR - Annals of Improbably Research, edited by the inestimable Marc Abrahams. They also sponsor the IgNobel awards. That you find this beneath you is more of a reflection on you than on the humor of this journal.
Posted by: arrzey | February 23, 2010 9:44 PM