Sunday, October 17, 2021

Bill Crawford: Poo-poo politicians who err on science

 “The research relied heavily on ‘genomic’ technologies, such as ‘transcriptomics,’ which measure gene activity by sequencing RNA molecules in different cell types. Researchers also employed ‘epigenomic’ techniques that look at how gene activity is influenced without altering the underlying genetic code.”

Understand that?

Me neither. And that’s a growing problem nearing crisis proportions.

Our inability, and for some unwillingness, to comprehend the ever-more-complex scientific techniques that produce new treatments, medicines, and interventions makes us highly susceptible to quackery, where people pretend to knowledge they do not possess to influence others. 

Such behavior has been rampant on social media where false information regarding the COVID-19 vaccines has stirred protests and violence across the world. Regrettably, uninformed politicians often jump in and make the problem worse.

Take Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson for example. At a “medical freedom” rally a week ago Saturday he said he believes COVID vaccines are made out of aborted baby tissue, as reported by WLBT. 

Medical article after medical article affirm that COVID vaccines do not contain any aborted fetal cells. “Dishonest sensationalism” is what the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) called statements such as Gipson’s. 

Lack of understanding of research processes has led to this. 

Modern researchers use lab-grown fetal cell lines for research and testing, not cells from aborted fetuses. Both Pfizer and Moderna used lab-grown fetal cell lines to test whether the vaccines worked but included none in their vaccines. According to UCLAhealth.org, “Johnson and Johnson did use fetal cell lines — not fetal tissue — when developing and producing their vaccine.”

What is true is that the cell lines now grown in labs are clones of cells taken from abortive fetal tissue back in the 1970s and 1980s. 

Despite his statement, Gipson said he encouraged his mother to get vaccinated. He also said he is not against vaccinations, but for freedom. Oh Andy, “the truth will set you free” – John 8:32.

The opening paragraph in this column comes from an article in Scientific American about breakthrough research to identify and map brain cells by type. “Measuring gene activity, and regulation, is important, because all cells contain the same DNA, but different cell types implement it differently,” the article stated. “There’s maybe a hundred different cell types in a small patch of your cortex, and we need to understand how each type deploys its genome differently,” said Fenna Krienen of Harvard Medical School.

It’s early yet, but such research can lead to techniques to manipulate brain cells. The goal will be to overcome brain disease and mental illness such as schizophrenia, but who knows what other applications might be possible.

Kinda scarey if you don’t understand how it works, huh?

Given our growing proclivities not to trust anything, what to do, what to do?

The first thing should be to poo-poo politicians and media sources that promulgate bad and false science. Science has enough issues without that. Then, as RealClearPolicy.com suggests, scientists must require “standards of openness, transparency, and reproducibility for the work they publish” and avoid single source research funding.

We depend more and more on science. We must be able to trust it too. 

Crawford is a syndicated columnist from Jackson.


5 comments:

Anonymous said...

"The first thing should be to poo-poo politicians and media sources that promulgate bad and false science."

That's an awful lot of poo-poo. My advice is to stock up on tp.

Anonymous said...

@10:45am - Kinda hard to find tp right now. Get yourself some bidets.

Tide goes in tide goes out Never a miscommunication said...





Then you look at Andy Gipson and his typical supporter:

'If I can't smell it, kill it and eat it or step in it then fer shure it ain't real!'

Krusatyr said...

I'm no doc like some on here who should develop, submit for approval and sell simple Antibody Tests as the gold standard for avoiding the Fauci-Chinese virus. We should not be limited to proof of vaccination as the Coin of the Realm.

If one has sufficient quality and quantity of antibodies, why does it matter whence they came, whether naturally, by vaccine or otherwise?

Resistance redundancy, such as requiring those who have acquired natural immunity to also be vaxxed, by mandate, is not "scientific", it is political, stupid and destructive of our entire socio-economic well being.

Anonymous said...

They will feed you the poo poo until you believe it's chocolate.


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Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

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Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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