Term Paper on Biology
S. Michael Halloran writer of "The Birth of Molecular Biology" summarizes Thomas Kuhn's views of scientific revolution and ethos. Ethos is defined as the fundamental values or disciplines of a particular group or culture. Edwin Black describes it further "people do not necessarily share ideas; they share rather stylistic proclivities and the qualities of mental life of which those proclivities are tokens." Watson and Crick's paper published in 1953 established an ethos, which started what Khun would call the scientific revolution.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The scientific community was very competitive at the time Watson and Crick published their report discussing the helical structure of deoxyribose nucleic acid (DNA). Although Watson and Crick are the most recognized for their discoveries about DNA, they were not the only scientists working on the project at the time. Nor were they the only scientists to have their work published in a journal. Two other reports were also published in Nature, along with Watson and Crick's, both discussing topics similar to the discoveries of the double helix model. Watson and Cricks article established an ethos using language that was not typical to the scientific field, as well as they conveyed information differently than their peers. The overall tone of the essay was quite aristocratic with a highly personal voice. Moreover, their short, easy to understand essay was placed directly before the Wilkins et al. report which used conventional language, and appeared very impersonal, which made the Watson and Crick article more desirable to read, and therefore more widely received by the general public. Watson and Crick began to branch away from the scientific community from this point. However unintended, they had started a so-called scientific revolution with their rhetorical topos.
Although, Watson and Cricks started a new trend in scientific research, and study with their report on the helical structure of DNA, its interesting to know that they took credit for many discoveries that were not there own. For example, Erwin Chargaff had completed experiments about the double helix, which were later called "Chargaff's ratios." Watson and Crick used this information in the Nature essay, but gave him no recognition for his findings, except in a brief footnote. Furthermore, Oswald Avery wrote a similar essay explaining DNA in 1944. For this reason, he could be accredited to starting the scientific revolution, but gained little recognition for it because it was considered to be "before its time." While Avery's essay was complex and explanatory, it lacked the easy to understand language of the Watson and Cricks essay. Therefore, it had no revolutionary effect on the scientific community.
The revolution began when other scientists began to adopt similar language and practices from Watson and Crick, who through their intentional act to gain the attention and recognition of their audience became forefathers of sorts to the change in scientific practices. Through these new practices, a new ethos was established as defined by Kuhn.
___________________________________________________________
Warning!!! All free sample term papers and college term paper examples on Biology topics are plagiarized and cannot be fully used in your high school, college or university education.
If you need a custom written term paper, research paper, essay, dissertation, thesis paper or any other homework on your topic, EffectivePapers.com will write your academic term papers from scratch. Starting at $12/page you can get 100% custom written papers online. We work with experienced PhD. and Master's freelance writers to help you with writing any papers in any discipline! High quality and 100% non-plagiarized term papers guaranteed!
___________________________________________________________
The scientific community was very competitive at the time Watson and Crick published their report discussing the helical structure of deoxyribose nucleic acid (DNA). Although Watson and Crick are the most recognized for their discoveries about DNA, they were not the only scientists working on the project at the time. Nor were they the only scientists to have their work published in a journal. Two other reports were also published in Nature, along with Watson and Crick's, both discussing topics similar to the discoveries of the double helix model. Watson and Cricks article established an ethos using language that was not typical to the scientific field, as well as they conveyed information differently than their peers. The overall tone of the essay was quite aristocratic with a highly personal voice. Moreover, their short, easy to understand essay was placed directly before the Wilkins et al. report which used conventional language, and appeared very impersonal, which made the Watson and Crick article more desirable to read, and therefore more widely received by the general public. Watson and Crick began to branch away from the scientific community from this point. However unintended, they had started a so-called scientific revolution with their rhetorical topos.
Although, Watson and Cricks started a new trend in scientific research, and study with their report on the helical structure of DNA, its interesting to know that they took credit for many discoveries that were not there own. For example, Erwin Chargaff had completed experiments about the double helix, which were later called "Chargaff's ratios." Watson and Crick used this information in the Nature essay, but gave him no recognition for his findings, except in a brief footnote. Furthermore, Oswald Avery wrote a similar essay explaining DNA in 1944. For this reason, he could be accredited to starting the scientific revolution, but gained little recognition for it because it was considered to be "before its time." While Avery's essay was complex and explanatory, it lacked the easy to understand language of the Watson and Cricks essay. Therefore, it had no revolutionary effect on the scientific community.
The revolution began when other scientists began to adopt similar language and practices from Watson and Crick, who through their intentional act to gain the attention and recognition of their audience became forefathers of sorts to the change in scientific practices. Through these new practices, a new ethos was established as defined by Kuhn.
___________________________________________________________
Warning!!! All free sample term papers and college term paper examples on Biology topics are plagiarized and cannot be fully used in your high school, college or university education.
If you need a custom written term paper, research paper, essay, dissertation, thesis paper or any other homework on your topic, EffectivePapers.com will write your academic term papers from scratch. Starting at $12/page you can get 100% custom written papers online. We work with experienced PhD. and Master's freelance writers to help you with writing any papers in any discipline! High quality and 100% non-plagiarized term papers guaranteed!
___________________________________________________________
