*Boggle*

[gnommi]

This paper actually wins my heretofore unassigned award for Most Peculiar Stem Cell Paper of The Year, and the Kellogg Prize for best use of Pritt Stick in a scientific figure (See Fig 1, just after p39). Redeems itself by having funky videos of cells linked, not that I can see any evidence of the phenomenon the paper describes in them, as they are entirely unlabelled...

It's a shame that poor use of terminology makes this paper appear even more bizarre than it is: it sounds like it could possibly describe an interesting and potentially important phenomenon. Interestingly, no subsequent publications corroborate these findings.

Potted version for non-specialists here.
"Neosis is the newly defined mode of cell division that occurs only in senescent, polyploid
cells, and has not been observed in normal diploid cells. Neosis is a parasexual, somatic, reduction
division displayed by a subset of multinucleate and/or polyploid giant cells or MN/PG cells formed
during the spontaneous senescent phase of normal cells at the end of their MLS or genetic stress-induced
accelerated senescence phase in tumor cells. " Uh... Okaaaaay.

Comments

[nmg.livejournal.com]

That is truly a great figure...

[gnommi.livejournal.com]

Multi-colour Biro and Pritt Stick FTW! I've been over the legend a few times, and most of the steps they describe they have no evidence of whatsoever. Another example of I-Can't-Beleive-That-Got-Published.

To be honest, I think they observed something potentially novel, then just extrapolated the possible implications beyond all reason. *Hands Occam's Razor*

[mikej-uk.livejournal.com]

I think it'd a shame they didn't draw smiley faces on some of the cells :) Actually a couple of the areas look like paw-prints - maybe their cat helped make it?

[gnommi.livejournal.com]

funny you should say that, I had the same thought!
"Why are there paw-marks?"
"Maybe the cat tried to eat it"