Abstract
We give anecdotal accounts from our own experience of scientific theories which have been generally accepted as the ‘ruling opinion’ long after sufficient evidence has been collected for their disproof. This has led us to the opinion that the normal scientific process, of working hypothesis followed by experimental test aimed at disproof, is being replaced by the ‘ruling opinion’ followed by experiment aimed at confirmation. The apparently widespread adoption of this procedure may be postulated to arise in part from the need for workers entering a new field of study to obtain grants and to get their results published.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Borejdo, J.: 1980, ‘Tension fluctuations in contracting myofibrils and their interpretation’, Biophys. J. 29, 49–64.
Borgers, M., Thone, F., Verheyen, A., and ter Keurs, H. E. D. J.: 1984, ‘Localization of calcium in skeletal and cardiac muscle’, Histochem. J. 16, 295–309.
Boyle, P. J. and Conway, E. F.: 1941, ‘Potassium accumulation in muscle and associated changes’, J. Physiol. 100, 1–63
Cope, F. W.: 1969, ‘Nuclear magnetic resonance evidence using D2O for structured water in muscle and brain’, Biophys. J. 9, 303–319.
Deleze, J. B.: 1961, ‘The mechanical properties of the semitendinosus muscle at lengths greater than its length in the body’, J. Physiol. 158, 154–164.
Donnan, F. G.: 1911, ‘Theorie der Membrangleichgewichte und Membranpotentiale bei Vorhandensein von nicht dialysierenden Elektrolyten. Ein Beitrag zur physikalischchemischen Physiologie’, Z. Elektrochem. 17, 572–581.
Donnan, F. G. and Allmand, A. J.: 1914, ‘Ionic equilibria across semi-permeable membranes’, J. Chem. Soc. 105, 1941–1963.
Donnan, F. G. and Guggenheim, E. A.: 1932, Die genaue Thermodynamik der Membrangleichgewichte. Z. Phys. Chem. 162, 346–360.
Drake-Holland, A. J. and Noble, M. I. M.: 1983, Cardiac Metabolism. J. Wiley & Sons, Chichester, p. 61.
Drake-Holland, A. J., Noble, M. I. M., Pieterse, M., Schouten, V. J. A., Seed, W. A., ter Keurs, H. E. D. J., and Wohlfart, B.: 1983, ‘Cardiac action potential duration and contractility in the intact dog heart’, J. Physiol. 345, 75–85.
Edman, K. A. P., Elzinga, G., and Noble, M. I. M.: 1978, ‘Enhancement of mechanical performance by stretch during tetanic contractions of vertebrate skeletal muscle fibres’, J. Physiol. 281, 139–155.
Edman, K. A. P., Elzinga, G., and Noble, M. I. M.: 1981, ‘The critical sarcomere extension required to recruit a decaying component of extra force during stretch during tetanic contractions of frog skeletal muscle fibres’, J. Gen. Physiol. 78, 365–382.
Edman, K. A. P., Elzinga, G., and Noble, M. I. M.: 1982, ‘Residual force enhancement after stretch of contracting frog single muscle fibres’, J. Gen. Physiol. 80, 769–784.
Endo, M.: 1972, ‘Stretch induced increase in activation of skinned muscle fibres by calcium’, Nature New Biol. 237, 211–213.
Fabiato, A.: 1983, ‘Calcium-induced release of calcium from the cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum’, Am. J. Physiol. 245 (Cell Physiol 4) C1-C14.
Fung, B. M.: 1975, ‘Orientation of water in striated frog muscle’, Science 190, 800–802.
Goldsmith, M. and Damadian, R.: 1974, ‘Biological ion exchange resins: V. The invalidity of the Donnan equation’, Physiol. Chem & Physics 6, 51–65.
Heppel, L. A.: 1940, ‘The diffusion of radioactive sodium into the muscles of potassium-deprived rats’, Am. J. Physiol. 128, 449–454.
Hill, A. V. and Kupalov, P. S.: 1930, ‘The vapour pressure of muscle’, Proc. Roy. Soc. B. 106, 445–477.
Huxley, A. F.: 1957, ‘Muscle structure and theories of contraction’, Prog. Biophys. 7, 257–318.
Iwazumi, T.: 1984, ‘No tension fluctuation in normal and healthy single myofibrils’, Biophys. J. 45, 158a.
Iwazumi, T.: 1985, ‘Slow stretches and releases of the contracting myofibril (bullfrog atria) to test tension fluctuations due to cross-bridge mechanical cycling’, J. Physiol. 366, 69P.
Kuntz, I. D., Brassfield, T. S., Law, G. D., and Purcell, G.: 1969, ‘Hydration of macromolecules’, Science 163, 1329–1331.
Langer, G. A: 1983, ‘Calcium exchange in the heart’, NATO Advanced Studies Institute: Heart Perfusion, Energetics and Ischaemia. Eds. L. Dintenfass, D. Julian and F. Seaman, Plenum Press, New York., pp. 455–469.
Langer, G. A.: 1985, ‘The effect of pH on cellular and membrane calcium binding and contraction of myocardium: a possible role for sarcolemmal phospholipid in EC coupling’, Circulation Res. 57, 374–382
Ling, G. N.: 1978, ‘Maintainance of low sodium and high potassium levels in resting muscle cells’, J. Physiol. 280, 105–123.
Ling, G. N., Miller, C., and Ochsenfield, M. M.: 1973 ‘The physical state of solutes and water in living cells according to the association-induction hypothesis’, Ann. NY Acad. Sci. 204, 6–50.
Lüllmann, H. and Peters, Th.: 1977, ‘Plasmalemmal calcium in cardiac excitation-contraction coupling’, Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology 4, 49–57.
Lüllmann, H. and Peters, Th.: 1979, ‘Action of cardiac glycosides on the excitation-contraction coupling in heart muscle’, Progress in Pharmacology 2, 5–57.
Morad, M. and Goldman, Y.: 1973, ‘Excitation-contraction coupling in heart muscle; membrane control of development of tension’, Prog. Biophys. Mol. Biol. 27, 257–313.
Noble, M. I. M. and Pollack, G. H.: 1975, ‘Some considerations favouring the electrostatic as opposed to the physical cross-link theory of cross-projection action in striated muscle’, J. Physiol. 251, 63–64P.
Noble, M. I. M. and Pollack, G. H.: 1977, ‘Molecular mechanisms of contraction’, Circulation Res. 40, 333–341.
Popper, K.: 1972, Conjectures and Refutations: The Growth of Scientific Knowledge, 4th edition, Routledge and Kegan Paul, London.
Steinbach, H. B.: 1940, ‘Sodium and potassium in frog muscle’, J. Biol. Chem. 133, 695–701.
Van Belle, H.: 1983, ‘A critical review on cyclic AMP and its role in celllular metabolism and heart contractility’, in Drake-Holland, A. J. and Noble, M. I. M. Cardiac Metabolism, John Wiley & Sons, New York, pp. 417–443.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Noble, M.I.M., Drake-Holland, A.J. Discrepancies between scientific theory and practice in relation to physiological hypotheses. Theor Med Bioeth 7, 219–231 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00539843
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00539843