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About viruses and viral disease

jon yewdell

Truth Wins: A Practical Guide to Succeeding in Biomedical Research, by Jonathan Yewdell

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Truth WinsJonathan Yewdell, Chief of the Cellular Biology Section at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has written a book entitled Truth Wins: A Practical Guide to Succeeding in Biomedical Research. 

Dr. Yewdell is well known for his presentations about the problems with biomedical science, a subject we discussed on TWiV 208: The Biomedical Research Crisis.

Here are two excerpts from the book:

The joy of making discoveries is the beating heart of a successful scientific career. The power of the scientific method to reveal truths about nature through iterative rational experimentation and interpretation inspired the title of the book.

The book is mostly intended for young people either contemplating a career in biomedical research or those who have already embarked on the journey. I hope that others might find it interesting and useful in understanding how scientists tick and what they do all day.

Truth Wins is free to download in either epub or mobi format.

Nature just is

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What better way to start 2013 than with a meaningful quote from Jon Yewdell:

We might think we know how Nature should work, and we certainly gain insight into Nature by using our logical powers (endowed by Nature) to predict how Nature might work, but ultimately, we have to understand the way Nature does work. Nature, in all its glorious complexity, is completely impassive. It cares not a whit what we may or may not believe. Nature just is.

It’s astounding how many scientists don’t really get this.

Jon’s statement includes the subject of this blog – viruses – which have no intentions or desires. Viruses are the product of mutation and selection, the goal of which is simply existence. Evolution does not move viruses along a trajectory aimed at perfection. Change comes about by eliminating those viruses that are not well adapted for the current conditions, not by building something that will fare better tomorrow. Viruses just are.

TWiV 208: The biomedical research crisis with Jon Yewdell

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On episode #208 of the science show This Week in Virology, Vincent is joined by special guest Jon Yewdell to discuss solutions for ending the current crisis in American biomedical research.

You can find TWiV #208 at www.microbe.tv/twiv.