Historical Assumptions, Logical Pitfalls, and Unfalsifiable Reasoning I want to preface this article by stating that the cell culture experiment has been repeatedly shown to be a pseudoscientific set-up. I have already written about the logical fallacies built into its design and demonstrated how it fails to adhere to the scientific method. Crucially, the experiment does not test… Continue reading Do Cytopathic Effects Prove “Viral” Replication?
Category: Cell Culture
A Friendly Chat About Cell Culture
Do virologists have a valid independent variable? Are proper controls ever performed? Is the cell culture even a scientific experiment? Since taking an open stance on the lack of scientific evidence supporting the existence of pathogenic “viruses” a few years ago, I have often found myself in various debates with people on different aspects related… Continue reading A Friendly Chat About Cell Culture
The Mirror Cytopathic Effect
Reflections of a Failed Pseudoscientific Hypothesis Science is the systematic study of the natural world. As outlined in Chapter 2 of Environmental Science, its fundamental goal is “to understand natural phenomena and to explain how they may be changing over time.” To achieve this, science depends on empirical observation, logical reasoning, and controlled experimentation—most often guided… Continue reading The Mirror Cytopathic Effect
The Indirect Approach
This article originally appeared on ViroLIEgy’s Antiviral Substack. Imagine for a moment that you had no concept of Santa Claus. You have never heard of the jolly fat man in the red jumpsuit who delivers presents to all of the good boys and girls around the world. You wake up one morning, walk downstairs, and… Continue reading The Indirect Approach
Virology’s Lack of Control
There has been quite a bit of debate over the years in regards to whether or not virology adheres to the scientific method, with much of this debate focused on the lack of proper controls. The argument has centered on whether the controls that are sometimes used yet rarely described, known as mock infections, are… Continue reading Virology’s Lack of Control
Mission Control: The Exosome Escape Clause
mock-infected A control used in infection experiments. Two specimens are used one that is infected with the virus/vector of interest and the other is treated the same way except without the virus. Sometimes a non-virulent strain is used in the mock-infected specimen.” https://www.genscript.com/biology-glossary/10558/mock-infected#:~:text=A%20control%20used%20in%20infection,in%20the%20mock%2Dinfected%20specimen. A control in science is an element that remains unchanged or the same throughout the experiment. They allow for the experimentor… Continue reading Mission Control: The Exosome Escape Clause
The Case Against Cell Cultures
“Many clinically relevant viruses are simply difficult to grow or cannot be grown at all in cultured cells, while other viruses require specialized culture systems that are either not available or too complicated for routine use in diagnostic laboratories. Traditional tube cultures, although viewed as being comprehensive in growing a wide range of viruses and… Continue reading The Case Against Cell Cultures
Creating the Cytopathic Effect
“Cytopathic effect (CPE), structural changes in a host cell resulting from viral infection. CPE occurs when the infecting virus causes lysis (dissolution) of the host cell or when the cell dies without lysis because of its inability to reproduce.” https://www.britannica.com/science/cytopathic-effect I’ve already gone through some of the various factors (bacteria, amoeba, parasites, chemical additives) which can be… Continue reading Creating the Cytopathic Effect
Sub-Culturing and Cell Culture Adaptations
“Barbara McClintock might be surprised to learn how well recent discoveries support her hypotheses. Her experiments of 60 years ago led her to propose that cells under environmental stress activate transposable elements in order to restructure the cell genome (McClintock, 1984).“ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1097276507004510 It is well known that cells under stress change and adapt due to… Continue reading Sub-Culturing and Cell Culture Adaptations
Environmental Contamination
Another area of concern in regards to cell cultures is environmental contamination. This kind of contamination is impossible to avoid as the potential sources are everywhere. This can occur from the plastic dishes used during cultures, from the purity of the water used, unintentional effects from certain light sources, or even from cleaning the incubators… Continue reading Environmental Contamination