Hermann J. Muller: Another ethical improbity: Deceiving the journal <i>Science</i>

This article describes how Hermann J. Muller attempted to persuade the editor of the journal <i>Science</i> to obtain a review of his book on eugenics entitled: <i>Out of the Night: A Biologist's View of the Future.</i> Muller sent the editor of <i>Science</i>, James McKeen Cattell, a letter soliciting a review of his forthcoming eugenics book. Muller's letter is of historical significance for several reasons. It highlights how Muller characterized his own standing on the issue with respect to his geneticist colleagues, especially those in the United States. Of even greater importance is the striking lack of transparency that Muller employed in attempting to persuade the editor, not only to publish a review of his book, but also to select the reviewer(s) from a list of suggested geneticists/biologists he provided. The Muller letter is significant since it shows that Muller was deceptive in his communication with the editor. He failed to disclose his personal and professional relationships with each of the six proposed reviewers and their long histories of support and advocacy for eugenics-based societal policies. The present example of Muller's ethical improbity adds to a substantial listing of similar actions that are linked both to his propensity for inappropriate self-promotion and ideological advocacy as seen in activities dealing with eugenics, chemical and radiological risk assessment, hereditary and cancer risk assessment, health physics practices, and the development of secondary school biological curriculum. The current paper gives a rare glimpse into ethics and bias in the scientific community and raises a series of new challenges to the culture of science and its dependence on honesty and transparency. While Muller may be appreciated as a scientist of great talent and achievement, he also displayed personal failings that undercut the integrity of scientific research.