50 Years Ago

Some elegantly simple results of Defendi, Ephrussi et al. ... have provided strong support for the general hypothesis that cancer induced by virus results from the addition of genetic information.

Uncontrolled growth is the characteristic property that distinguishes all cancer cells from normal cells. Cancer cells are unable to regulate cell division and, since this characteristic is inherited, it is highly likely that it results from a genetic change. Before the discovery that DNA and RNA viruses can both transform normal cells into cancer cells, the hypothesis most frequently considered was that cancer is caused by the accumulation of somatic mutations leading to the loss of the function of some essential regulatory gene. With the discovery of cancer inducing or oncogenic viruses, an alternative hypothesis could be considered—that cancer results from the acquisition of genetic information. ... it is equally possible that oncogenic viruses either cause a deletion of part of the cell genome or induce recessive mutations. The crucial question then is whether the genome of an oncogenic virus persists in transformed cells, perhaps incorporated into the chromosome as a prophage is in a bacterium.

From Nature 22 April 1967

100 Years Ago

To gain daylight by adjustment of the clock is a brilliant practical idea, but the present method of realising it by moving the hands of the clock is grossly unscientific, and should, I think, be changed for the alternative one.

Let the circular disc of the clock-dial be put in place by screws in curved slots. ... when changing time, we should rotate the dial backwards and forwards respectively, leaving the hands untouched.

From Nature 19 April 1917 Footnote 1