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Serendipitous insights involving nonhuman primates.
William R Morton1, Kathryn Swindler
1Comparative Medicine, University of Washington; Washington National Primate Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA.
ILAR Journal
|September 24, 2005
Summary
Serendipity, a key outcome of informed observation in basic research, drives scientific discovery. Leveraging resources like primate centers enhances capitalizing on these unexpected yet strategic findings.
Area of Science:
- Scientific discovery and research methodology
- Exploration of controlled chaos in scientific inquiry
Background:
- Serendipity is a fundamental, profitable outcome of basic research, often arising from "informed observation."
- Such findings are typically unanticipated, anomalous, and strategic, requiring contextual understanding or suggesting new paradigms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss serendipity as a critical element in scientific research and discovery.
- To highlight the importance of resources like primate centers for capitalizing on serendipitous findings.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual analysis of serendipity in research.
- Review of examples from nonhuman primate research and genomics.
Main Results:
- Serendipitous findings follow a pattern: unanticipated, anomalous, and strategic.
- Genomics, particularly with nonhuman primates, offers vast potential for serendipitous discoveries due to shared genes.
Conclusions:
- Maintaining access to primate centers is crucial for timely exploitation of serendipitous discoveries.
- Serendipity is a vital, normal aspect of basic research, impacting diverse fields from genomics to infectious diseases.