A. INCORRECT CHOICE
Feedback: Any advice for the public from scientists needs to balance what is known from the science with other, non-scientific factors—such as an urgent need to keep healthcare workers disease-free so that they can take care of others. Translating scientific findings into public policy can be challenging, but it requires an honest and continuing assessment of all of the available data.
B. CORRECT CHOICE
Feedback: The scientific consensus on any issue must remain open to change based on important new findings. Only in this way can science help humanity approach ever-closer to the truth.
C. INCORRECT CHOICE
Feedback: Sticking to an old, incorrect conclusion in the face of new evidence is the opposite of what is considered good science. Ignoring new findings distorts and damages science, and would thereby erode the public’s trust in science.
What is true of scientific consensus?
D. INCORRECT CHOICE
Feedback: Although the scientific consensus on any issue must remain open to change based on important new findings, using the prevailing consensus to help make important decisions is critical for making the best choices. Thus, for example, because climate science predicts major increases in sea level, it would be wise to avoid investing in property too close to the ocean.
Courtesy of Norton Publishing’s Smartwork assessment platform for Essential Cell Biology, 6th edition.