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Updated: May 21, 2026
09:40
Phage Phenomics: Physiological Approaches to Characterize Novel Viral Proteins
Published on: June 11, 2015
Who went into phage research?
1Department of Microbiology, Immunologie and Infectiologie; Faculty of Medicine; Laval University; Quebec, Canada.
Bacteriophage
|June 6, 2012
Summary
This study analyzed 30,000 phage research papers, revealing that British and German authors predominated. It highlights the increasing contributions from developing nations and the significant presence of Irish and Jewish scientists in phage research.
Area of Science:
- Phage research
- Bibliometrics
- History of science
Background:
- Phage research has a long history, with significant contributions from various ethnic groups.
- Understanding the ethnic origins of researchers can provide insights into the global landscape of scientific contributions.
- Historical and societal factors play a crucial role in scientific advancement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the ethnic origins of first authors in phage research publications.
- To identify predominant ethnic groups and languages represented in phage research.
- To explore the correlation between ethnic origins, publication frequency, and the evolving global participation in phage research.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 30,000 phage papers, books, and book chapters published between 1965 and 2010.
- Examination of the ethnic origins of 14,429 first authors, representing 40 linguistic domains and at least 70 languages.
- Comparison of author origins with country-specific publication statistics.
Main Results:
- British and German names were predominant among the analyzed authors.
- Irish and Jewish scientists were notably prominent in the field.
- The study indicated a growing contribution from researchers in developing countries to phage research.
- Results aligned with country-based publication frequency data.
Conclusions:
- Ethnic and linguistic diversity is evident in phage research authorship.
- Historical and societal factors significantly influence the progression and geographical distribution of scientific research.
- The findings underscore the increasing global participation and contributions to phage research from diverse backgrounds.
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