hypothetical construct

[Thomas Schlemmermeyer]

To this thread I want to add one tiny little thought which a famous
dipterist presented on wednesday during the apresentation of his book
about phylogenetic systematics:

Many entomologists drink alcohol. The sensorial perception of the structure=
s
on the investigated insects under influence of alcohol may influence
character- and homology decisions.
I know other systematists who smoke or drink coffee during work. This is as
well a subjective factor which may influence theoretical decisions by way o=
f
practical inaccuracy.

I don't want to make a new prohibition campagne. But by analogy one may
understand difficulties in the molecular area as well. Now I remember that =
I
read in the Hillis and Moritz Book that one of the biggest problems in
molecular phylogenetics is the production of clean, reproducible, "true"
data.=20

OK. Let's say we all don't drink, don't smoke and are the cleanest and best
lab workers one can imagine!
But even so, I think there is some fundamental perception problem. Characte=
rs
and homologies are consequences of our neuronal processes which run after
contact with the object. These processes are subject to error and=20
subjectivity. We are confronted with our own biological limitations.

Thomas

---------------------------------------------------------------------------=
---
Thomas Schlemmermeyer
Museu de Zoologia, Universidade de S=E3o Paulo
Caixa Postal 42694
CEP 04299-970
S=E3o Paulo, SP, Brasil

Resid=EAncia:
Thomas Schlemmermeyer
Caixa Postal 00276
CEP 14001-970
Ribeir=E3o Preto, SP, Brasil

Fone, Fax: 016 6371999
---------------------------------------------------------------------------=
---