# Any other scientific paradigm overturning as dramatic as "infections cause ulcers" in last 40 years? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 30, 2017, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-scientific-paradigm-overturning-as-dramatic-as-infections-cause-ulcers-in-last-40-years/785549 "2017-04-30T01:46:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2017, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-scientific-paradigm-overturning-as-dramatic-as-infections-cause-ulcers-in-last-40-years/785549/21 "2017-04-30T16:03:12Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > I think that much larger than epigenetics was the discovery that the “junk”, that is non-coding, DNA wasn’t junk, but was heavily involved in gene expression. After Watson and Crick, biochemists widely assumed that each gene coded for a protein and that those proteins were all that mattered… > [@JWT\_Kottekoe](#): > > Another vote for the new understanding of “junk” DNA… Again, meh - in my opinion, this is wildly exaggerated in the popular press (perhaps encouraged by researchers in the field.) It’s a straw man that anyone ever thought that protein-coding sequence was all that mattered. That notion makes no sense whatsoever - it’s like suggesting that a computer could consist of a hard drive and nothing else. People have been studying [gene regulation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regulation_of_gene_expression) forever. We have _always_ known that non-coding sequence regulates the transcription of protein-coding sequence. So the question has only ever been a quantitative one, just _how much_ of the non-coding sequence has biological function, and we don’t yet know the answer to that yet. I don’t think that a quantitative matter like this constitutes a paradigm shift, unless the percentage turns out to be a _much_ larger number than expected, and unless a whole lot of as-yet unknown _mechanisms_ for biological function are discovered. The first para of the Wiki article has a balanced view of the state of research: > **[Non-coding DNA](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noncoding_DNA)** > > Non-coding DNA (ncDNA) sequences are components of an organism's DNA that do not encode protein sequences. Some non-coding DNA is transcribed into functional non-coding RNA molecules (e.g. transfer RNA, microRNA, piRNA, ribosomal RNA, and regulatory RNAs). Other functional regions of the non-coding DNA fraction include regulatory sequences that control gene expression; scaffold attachment regions; origins of DNA replication; centromeres; and telomeres. Some non-coding regions appear to be mostly ... > [@](#): > > …The international Encyclopedia of DNA Elements (ENCODE) project uncovered, by direct biochemical approaches, that at least 80% of human genomic DNA has biochemical activity. Though this was not necessarily unexpected due to previous decades of research discovering many functional noncoding regions, some scientists criticized the conclusion for **conflating biochemical activity with biological function**. Estimates for the biologically functional fraction of our genome based on comparative genomics range between 8 and 15%… [my bold] Some extremely interesting and unexpected mechanisms of gene regulation _have_ been discovered, such as [RNA interference](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RNA_interference). And some aspects of epigenetic gene regulation would fall into this category too, although epigenetics is also wildly misrepresented and exaggerated. To my mind, this kind of specific discovery of an entirely new mechanism of gene regulation is much more like something I’d call a paradigm shift, rather than just a vague notion that _more_ of the non-coding sequence _may_ be doing something. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2017, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-scientific-paradigm-overturning-as-dramatic-as-infections-cause-ulcers-in-last-40-years/785549/22 "2017-04-30T16:03:54Z")
> [@JWT\_Kottekoe](#): > > With regard to Amdahl’s Law, it is a simple statement, and still important. I don’t think anything has happened that wasn’t obvious to Gene Amdahl when he first stated it. Fair enough - I was just trying to explain the comment Melbourne made, mostly because I remember when Gustafson published his paper [Amdahl's Law](http://www.johngustafson.net/pubs/pub13/amdahl.htm) ---
**Author:** ![eburacum45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eburacum45/32/8690_2.png) [@eburacum45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eburacum45)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2017, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-scientific-paradigm-overturning-as-dramatic-as-infections-cause-ulcers-in-last-40-years/785549/23 "2017-04-30T19:11:55Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > Probably you mean the [accelerating expansion of the universe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accelerating_expansion_of_the_universe)? I tend to think of this as being the most important paradigm shift in the last 40 years, but I’m interested to find out about others. ---
**Author:** ![doubleminus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5daacb/32.png) [@doubleminus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doubleminus)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2017, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-scientific-paradigm-overturning-as-dramatic-as-infections-cause-ulcers-in-last-40-years/785549/24 "2017-04-30T22:02:38Z")
> [@astro](#): > > This example > > [Helicobacter pylori](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helicobacter_pylori) > > is often cited as the archetypal example of a scientific paradigm being overturned in modern times. Any other examples like this of huge revisions in scientific models in the last 30 -40 years or so? This example is interesting since it is a paradigm “double shift”. The discovery spoke almost of a causal link, however H. Pylori is present in about 80% of the adult population, and only a small percentage of these develop gastric ulcers. It is a somewhat symbiotic organism, the lack of which is implicated in various disorders, like esophageal diseases. It also influences the hormones released by the gastric system. The eradication of H. Pylori has been implicated in the obesity epidemic and type 2 diabetes. Anecdotally, I can say that I have been suffering from Barrett’s esophagus and on the edge of Type2 diabetes, starting a few years into chronic antiacid medication. My docs have unfortunately not yet heard about the possible connection. Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![sweat209](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@sweat209](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweat209)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-scientific-paradigm-overturning-as-dramatic-as-infections-cause-ulcers-in-last-40-years/785549/25 "2017-05-01T01:22:03Z")
> [@doubleminus](#): > > This example is interesting since it is a paradigm “double shift”. The discovery spoke almost of a causal link, however H. Pylori is present in about 80% of the adult population, and only a small percentage of these develop gastric ulcers. It is a somewhat symbiotic organism, the lack of which is implicated in various disorders, like esophageal diseases. It also influences the hormones released by the gastric system.\*\* The eradication of H. Pylori has been implicated in the obesity epidemic and type 2 diabetes. > \*\* > Anecdotally, I can say that I have been suffering from Barrett’s esophagus and on the edge of Type2 diabetes, starting a few years into chronic antiacid medication. My docs have unfortunately not yet heard about the possible connection. > > Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk I had no idea that if you did not have H. Pylori you are more likely to get obesity or type 2 diabetes. So it looks like you will need H. Pylori to make the Barrett’s esophagus and Type2 diabetes go away. ---
**Author:** ![Annoying\_Buzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Annoying\_Buzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annoying_Buzz)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-scientific-paradigm-overturning-as-dramatic-as-infections-cause-ulcers-in-last-40-years/785549/26 "2017-05-01T01:31:33Z")
Dinosaurs Got Feathers!!! To someone who grew up just reading about dinos that were uniformly depicted as brown/green/grey and scaly, modern-day paleontology is pretty mind-blowing. And it was already mentioned, but dark energy / accelerating expansion shook my worldview pretty thoroughly, too. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-scientific-paradigm-overturning-as-dramatic-as-infections-cause-ulcers-in-last-40-years/785549/27 "2017-05-01T03:01:40Z")
I was treated for ulcers for several years with no luck. I switched DR.'s and he gave me an anti biotic of some kind and I have never had a problem since. Are they saying the DR’s had it wrong? ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-scientific-paradigm-overturning-as-dramatic-as-infections-cause-ulcers-in-last-40-years/785549/28 "2017-05-01T03:08:04Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > That a “low fat” diet is the most healthy diet. I think it’s too soon / too much conflicting data to call that one. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-scientific-paradigm-overturning-as-dramatic-as-infections-cause-ulcers-in-last-40-years/785549/29 "2017-05-01T11:58:21Z")
> [@](#): > > Quoth **Annoying Buzz** : > > And it was already mentioned, but dark energy / accelerating expansion shook my worldview pretty thoroughly, too. That one was at least anticipated, though it was mostly in the sense of “well, if you want to be thoroughly exhaustive about all of the possibilities, you really ought to include this really unlikely one as well”. When the evidence was discovered, the theories describing it were already ready and waiting. I don’t think there was anything like that for the ulcer bacteria, though. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-scientific-paradigm-overturning-as-dramatic-as-infections-cause-ulcers-in-last-40-years/785549/30 "2017-05-01T12:39:20Z")
My vote is for the [endosymbiotic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbiogenesis) evolutionary theory of the origin of eukaryotic cells from prokaryotic organisms. This theory posits that mitochondria are derived from ancient organisms that are in a symbiotic relationship with their host cells. This includes all animal cells, and us, of course. Celluar respiration and the utilization of oxygen is carried out by the mitochondria in our cells. Mitochondria actually have their own independent genome that is very similar to bacterial genomes. Each of us get our supply of mitochondria from the original egg cell from our mothers. Each time a cell divides, the mitochondria in the daughter cells also divide and multiply. According to the linked article above, this theory was apparently first proposed in the early 20th century, but not seriously advanced until a 1967 paper and 1981 book by [Lynn Margulis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynn_Margulis). I first heard about the theory in 2004 when reading _[The Ancestor’s Tale](http://a.co/g5OtxBY)_ by Richard Dawkins. ---
**Author:** ![davida03801](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5e925/32.png) [@davida03801](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davida03801)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-scientific-paradigm-overturning-as-dramatic-as-infections-cause-ulcers-in-last-40-years/785549/31 "2017-05-01T12:40:20Z")
I believe most ocean scientists thought the deep ocean floor was barren of life till the hot vents were discovered with abundant life of all type around them. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-scientific-paradigm-overturning-as-dramatic-as-infections-cause-ulcers-in-last-40-years/785549/32 "2017-05-01T13:16:11Z")
If we go back 400 years, we could name the steam engine … maybe the OP typo’ed? ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-scientific-paradigm-overturning-as-dramatic-as-infections-cause-ulcers-in-last-40-years/785549/33 "2017-05-01T13:23:43Z")
How about Kuhn’s 1962 treatise? Was that a paradigm shift in the philosophy of science? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Tzigone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Tzigone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzigone)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-scientific-paradigm-overturning-as-dramatic-as-infections-cause-ulcers-in-last-40-years/785549/34 "2017-05-01T13:29:40Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > That a “low fat” diet is the most healthy diet. I’m tempted to exclude dietary science from this entire discussion. We hear different things (new ideas overturning old) quite often there. Like cholesterol and food. Plus marketing makes it muddled sometimes. I’ve heard it’s one of the softer sciences, but I don’t know if that’s true. ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-scientific-paradigm-overturning-as-dramatic-as-infections-cause-ulcers-in-last-40-years/785549/35 "2017-05-01T15:55:37Z")
Similar to the OP’s example, how about the realization that cervical cancer was caused by human papilloma virus and that we now have a vaccine for (a certain kind of) cancer? Seems like a big deal to me. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-scientific-paradigm-overturning-as-dramatic-as-infections-cause-ulcers-in-last-40-years/785549/36 "2017-05-01T17:02:09Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > ??? > > **RivkahChaya** was saying that the prior paradigm that autism is caused by bad parenting has been overturned. I wasnt sure either. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-scientific-paradigm-overturning-as-dramatic-as-infections-cause-ulcers-in-last-40-years/785549/37 "2017-05-01T17:03:37Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > I think it’s too soon / too much conflicting data to call that one. Nope. Sure, it might be Ok. But it now seems like ANY diet but the\* American Fast & Junk food diet \*is Ok for you. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-scientific-paradigm-overturning-as-dramatic-as-infections-cause-ulcers-in-last-40-years/785549/38 "2017-05-01T17:21:07Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Nope. Sure, it might be Ok. But it now seems like ANY diet but the\* American Fast & Junk food diet \*is Ok for you. But put that way, what got overturned? The advice was basically cut down on fats, particularly saturated and trans fats. Nowadays dieticians will tell you…the same thing. Or some might say they don’t think there’s enough evidence that fats are bad, but that’s not exactly a U-turn, yet. > [@Tzigone](#): > > I’m tempted to exclude dietary science from this entire discussion. We hear different things (new ideas overturning old) quite often there. Like cholesterol and food. Plus marketing makes it muddled sometimes. I’ve heard it’s one of the softer sciences, but I don’t know if that’s true. Well it’s tricky, because ideally you would give a large number of people very constrained diets for a long time. And ensure they don’t cheat, by perhaps supervising them. The difficulty, ethical issues and expense of this, means many studies cannot come close to this ideal. ---
**Author:** ![Surreal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@Surreal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surreal)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-scientific-paradigm-overturning-as-dramatic-as-infections-cause-ulcers-in-last-40-years/785549/39 "2017-05-01T17:50:18Z")
Here’s a recent article that certainly seems to overturn the conventional wisdom on sodium: > **[Low-sodium diet might not lower blood pressure](https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/519011)** > > A new study that followed more than 2,600 men and women for 16 years found that consuming less sodium wasn't associated with lower blood pressure. The study adds to growing evidence that current recommendations for limiting sodium intake may be... > [@](#): > > Chicago (April 25, 2017) - **A new study that followed more than 2,600 men and women for 16 years found that consuming less sodium wasn’t associated with lower blood pressure**. The new findings call into question the sodium limits recommended by the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans. > > Lynn L. Moore, DSc, associate professor of medicine at Boston University School of Medicine, will present the new research at the American Society for Nutrition Scientific Sessions and annual meeting during the Experimental Biology 2017 meeting, to be held April 22-26 in Chicago. > > “ **We saw no evidence that a diet lower in sodium had any long-term beneficial effects on blood pressure," said Moore. "Our findings add to growing evidence that current recommendations for sodium intake may be misguided.** ” ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-scientific-paradigm-overturning-as-dramatic-as-infections-cause-ulcers-in-last-40-years/785549/40 "2017-05-01T18:26:21Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > But put that way, what got overturned? > > The advice was basically cut down on fats, particularly saturated and trans fats. > Nowadays dieticians will tell you…the same thing. Or some might say they don’t think there’s enough evidence that fats are bad, but that’s not exactly a U-turn, yet. > . The idea was "low fat= lose weight’ and there’s little evidence this ever worked. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-scientific-paradigm-overturning-as-dramatic-as-infections-cause-ulcers-in-last-40-years/785549.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-scientific-paradigm-overturning-as-dramatic-as-infections-cause-ulcers-in-last-40-years/785549.md?page=3)