This web page was produced as an assignment for Genetics 677, an undergraduate course at UW-Madison
Popular Press vs. Scientific Article
News is spread in many different ways: radio, television, newspaper, email, word of mouth etc. While all forms of communication use their own method to convey the news, some ways are much more effective at reaching a larger audience. For example, the scientific community uses scholarly scientific articles to announce the findings of their research to other scientists. This allows researchers to explain what research was done, the methods behind it, and what implications it has for further research. However, most of the world does not read scientific articles, and if they did, they would very likely not understand the scientific jargon the publishers use. Therefore, it is imperative that scientific breakthroughs be conveyed to the public in a way that non-science majors can understand. Popular press articles such as the article found in the New York Times function as a Rosetta stone for the layman in understanding the research conducted. I am comparing an article found in a scientific magazine with an article found in the New York Times, both of which announce the discovery of the gene believed to cause narcolepsy in canines.
In 2001, Bioessays published an article which summarized a study done by researchers at the Stanford Center for Narcolepsy, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University Medical Center. In this study, researchers found that neuropeptides, known as hypocretins, played a factor in the chronic sleep disease narcolepsy. They determined that dogs, humans, and mice with abnormally low numbers of hypocretin production cause narcolepsy.
The paper included a lengthy introduction including a background of narcolepsy in humans and canines, and the discovery of hypocretins and what they are, and where they are usually found in the brain. The paper then described the canine and knockout mice models it used to determine that abnormal hypocretin levels cause narcolepsy.
The paper conveyed all of what the researchers knew of hypocretins, what research was done, what the study was able to conclude, and further research that should be looked into. I felt it went a little too in depth with the history of hypocretins, and that it should have only stuck to discussing the effect it has in causing narcolepsy.
In 2007, the New York Times published an article by Ingfei Chen discussing the gene that was determined to be the cause of narcolepsy in Mignot’s research. The article discusses how Mignot was introduced to his research and does a fine job of explaining the final conclusion of the 2001 study. The article then discusses Mignot’s continued research in zebrafish and possibilities of drugs to treat narcolepsy.
While the primary article went into gory details of the research that was done, the press article replaced those details with a introduction of Mignot adopting one of his test puppies, and how he became involved with his research. This is much easier for non-science majors to read. The press article was also able to convey the findings of the study in a sentence-long comparison of how the lack of hypocretins is similar to the cause of parkinson’s disease.
In addition, the press article came out 6 years after the study was completed. This is most likely due to us not knowing the full extent of how narcolepsy is caused in humans. Without a breakthrough such as a new drug to treat human narcolepsy, or a genetic transplant to cure human narcolepsy, the general public will most likely have to wait at least another 6 years for any information on narcolepsy research.
References:
Chen, Ingfei. From Faithful Dogs and Difficult Fish, Insight into Narcolepsy. New York Times.com. 2007. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/23/science/23narc.html
Mignot E. et al. 2001. Bioessays. Hypocretin/orexin, sleep and narcolepsy. http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/80002933/PDFSTART
In 2001, Bioessays published an article which summarized a study done by researchers at the Stanford Center for Narcolepsy, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University Medical Center. In this study, researchers found that neuropeptides, known as hypocretins, played a factor in the chronic sleep disease narcolepsy. They determined that dogs, humans, and mice with abnormally low numbers of hypocretin production cause narcolepsy.
The paper included a lengthy introduction including a background of narcolepsy in humans and canines, and the discovery of hypocretins and what they are, and where they are usually found in the brain. The paper then described the canine and knockout mice models it used to determine that abnormal hypocretin levels cause narcolepsy.
The paper conveyed all of what the researchers knew of hypocretins, what research was done, what the study was able to conclude, and further research that should be looked into. I felt it went a little too in depth with the history of hypocretins, and that it should have only stuck to discussing the effect it has in causing narcolepsy.
In 2007, the New York Times published an article by Ingfei Chen discussing the gene that was determined to be the cause of narcolepsy in Mignot’s research. The article discusses how Mignot was introduced to his research and does a fine job of explaining the final conclusion of the 2001 study. The article then discusses Mignot’s continued research in zebrafish and possibilities of drugs to treat narcolepsy.
While the primary article went into gory details of the research that was done, the press article replaced those details with a introduction of Mignot adopting one of his test puppies, and how he became involved with his research. This is much easier for non-science majors to read. The press article was also able to convey the findings of the study in a sentence-long comparison of how the lack of hypocretins is similar to the cause of parkinson’s disease.
In addition, the press article came out 6 years after the study was completed. This is most likely due to us not knowing the full extent of how narcolepsy is caused in humans. Without a breakthrough such as a new drug to treat human narcolepsy, or a genetic transplant to cure human narcolepsy, the general public will most likely have to wait at least another 6 years for any information on narcolepsy research.
References:
Chen, Ingfei. From Faithful Dogs and Difficult Fish, Insight into Narcolepsy. New York Times.com. 2007. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/23/science/23narc.html
Mignot E. et al. 2001. Bioessays. Hypocretin/orexin, sleep and narcolepsy. http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/80002933/PDFSTART
Eric Suchy, Email: [email protected], last updated: May 15, 2010
