Developing the BMJ's coverage of basic science

BMJ 1998;316:1260-1260 ( 25 April )

Editorials

Developing the BMJ's coverage of basic science

We are introducing science commentaries

Paper p 1275

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

The BMJ wants to do a better job of informing readers about developments in basic science. One of several ways in which weare trying to do this is by including with some research papersa brief commentary on the science underlying the clinical phenomenondescribed in the paper. The first of these science commentaries,on peanut allergy, appears on p 1275.¹

In the next 20 years basic science is likely to transform medical practice. The new genetics will produce greater understandingof disease processes; new treatments, diagnostic tests, and prognosticmarkers; and a greatly increased ability to predict people's risksof particular diseases. Some visionaries predict a revolutionakin to the appearance of antibiotics. Other developments in science $---$ forexample, in imaging $---$ are also likely to have profound effects.

So ordinary doctors should be paying attention to basic science. Ideally, they should also be excited by it. Creativity inscience can . . . [Full text of this article]

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