D. Jay Newman wrote:
>> I think an increasing fraction of the medical problems we'd like to 
>> solve are looking like that.
> 
> Trust me, I know this.
> 
> Unfortunately then we are down to modeling and our models aren't good
> enough yet.
> 
> The scientific method is a tool. It cannot be used in all cases because
> of the above difficulties. Once we get a better model of how biology
> works, then we can use the scientific method to deal with one-offs.

Agreed.  I'm not saying it's a bad tool, just that it's not helpful with 
these problems right now, and we don't have a good alternative. 
Probably modeling *is* the best alternative, but it's hard too.

I always think of Dr. McCoy in Star Trek IV, visiting a 20th-century 
hospital: "This is the dark ages!  They're CUTTING PEOPLE OPEN in there, 
Jim!" (or so).  Someday we will know more.
-- 
Timothy J. Weber
http://timothyweber.org
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