Reappraising cellular biology
Yale pre-med reappraiser Kathy Mitchell
provided a description of an interesting new book, The case
for new paradigms in cell biology and in neurobiology , by
Harold Hillman. "Based on observations in living cells and
the laws of solid geometry and thermodynamics, the structure of
the living cell has been reexamined. The cytoskeleton, the endoplasmic
reticulum, the nuclear pores, and the apparent trilaminar appearance
of the cell membranes, have been shown to be artifacts of electron
microscopy. The synapses and neuroglial cells have been reexamined,
and the case has been made out for entirely new paradigms, with
consideration of the reactions to this fundamental reappraisal."
A review from an undated issue of the journal Ultramicroscopy
followed: "The difficulty encountered by the author in getting
his 'heretical' views published is recapitulated and the refusal
of various eminent colleagues to take them seriously or indeed even
to discuss them other than dismissibly is recounted... There really
does seem to be a case to answer... The onus seems to fall on the
traditionalists to prove that their traditions are well founded."
AIDS debated at Florida State
Celia Farber's article mentioned my travel to Florida
to debate the capital's main AIDS physician and two state AIDS officials.
The debate occurred on April 22 on the campus of Florida State University.
Graduating student Jason Nusbaum organized the event and participated
as my debate partner.
North Florida's leading gay publication, Community News
, the only medium to cover the event, in its May edition called
our presentation "thoughtful and organized" and recognized
that we backed our assertions with referenced scientific studies.
Editor Ian Granick wrote that our opponents "exhibited a surprising
lack of preparation, seemed generally ill equipped to tackle head-on
the issues being raised, and relied on anecdotes, personal beliefs,
and ominous warnings to promote their case."
Granick concluded that "too many questions went unanswered
by the [HIV-AIDS] proponents and too few challenges were posed to
the dissenters to adequately illuminate the reality of the science.
It remains clear that further discussion on the topics which Nusbaum
and Philpott raised is needed."
A later issue of RA will feature more about my Florida
trip which also included lectures at the University of Miami medical
school and nearby Ft. Lauderdale's Nova University. Contact 510-649-1110
or<FSUAIDSguy@aol.com> for videos of the FSU debate, and Kai
Thorup (954-262-8181 <thurupk@ polaris.acast.nova.edu>) of
Nova's Students Reappraising AIDS group for videos of my Nova lecture.