DNA hybridization, 40 years later!

This is the hour-long story from the 1980s of two scientists named Charles Sibley and Jon Ahlquist, who utilized a high-tech method for comparing genomes and producing unimpeachable phylogenetic reconstructions. The high-tech method for comparing genomes was called DNA hybridization. The low-tech method for producing unimpeachable phylogenetic reconstructions was called data falsification.

 

The key question is: Did they zealously guard their data after publication, and coincidentally misreport their handling of their data, and coincidentally handle their data in completely ridiculous ways? Or did they guard their data in order to conceal the misreporting of their methods, in turn in order to conceal the fact that they were sautéing their data? 

This was my introduction to science studies. Aside from the fraud, sometimes I wonder how the people who cited this work would feel to know that they were citing a young-earth creationist. I'm pretty sure I've never cited the work of any creationist favorably.

It was a long time ago, and fortunately I had other interests. But like Willie Nelson, I would issue this advice: Mammas, don't let your babies grow up to be whistle-blowers...

And the gory details of my own experience are recounted here:

https://www.jonmarksanthropologist.com/_files/ugd/97ac57_a7bfa015214e426b8a96ff5d39fc4635.pdf