BACKGROUND This paper assesses possible reasons why Hermann J. Muller avoided peer-review of data that became the basis of his Nobel Prize award for producing gene mutations in male Drosophila by X-rays. METHODS Extensive correspondence between Muller and close associates and other materials were obtained from preserved papers to compliment extensive publications by and about Muller in the open literature. These were evaluated for potential historical insights that clarify why he avoided peer-review of his Nobel Prize findings. RESULTS This paper clarifies the basis of Muller's (Muller HJ, Sci 66 84-87, 1927c) belief that he produced X-ray induced "gene" mutations in Drosophila. It then shows his belief was contemporaneously challenged by his longtime friend/confidant and Drosophila geneticist, Edgar Altenburg. Altenburg insisted that Muller may have simply poked large holes in chromosomes with massive doses of X-rays, and needed to provide proof of gene "point" mutations. Given the daunting and uncertain task to experimentally address this criticism, especially within the context of trying to become first to produce gene mutations, it is proposed that Muller purposely avoided peer-review while rushing to publish his paper in Science to claim discovery primacy without showing any data. The present paper also explores ethical issues surrounding these actions, including those of the editor of Science, James McKeen Catell and Altenburg, and their subsequent impact on the scientific and regulatory communities. CONCLUSION This historical analysis suggests that Muller deliberately avoided peer-review on his most significant findings because he was extremely troubled by the insightful and serious criticism of Altenburg, which suggested he had not produced gene mutations as he claimed. Nonetheless, Muller manipulated this situation (i.e., publishing a discussion within Science with no data, publishing a poorly written non-peer reviewed conference proceedings with no methods and materials, and no references) due to both the widespread euphoria over his claim of gene mutation and confidence that Altenburg would not publically challenge him. This situation permitted Muller to achieve his goal to be the first to produce gene mutations while buying him time to later try to experimentally address Altenburg's criticisms, and a possible way to avoid discovery of his questionable actions.

中文翻译：

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穆勒的诺贝尔奖研究和同行评审。

背景技术本文评估了赫尔曼·J·穆勒（Hermann J. Muller）避免对数据进行同行评审的可能原因，该数据成为他的X射线在果蝇雄性中产生基因突变的诺贝尔奖的基础。方法穆勒与密友和其他材料之间的广泛对应关系是从保存的论文中获得的，以补充穆勒及其在公开文献中的大量出版物。对这些内容进行了评估，以获得潜在的历史见解，从而阐明了他为什么避免对诺贝尔奖发现者进行同行评审。结果本文阐明了穆勒（Muller HJ，Sci 66 84-87，1927c）认为他在果蝇中产生X射线诱导的“基因”突变的基础。这表明他的信仰同时受到他的长期朋友/知己和果蝇遗传学家埃德加·阿尔滕伯格的挑战。Altenburg坚持认为，穆勒可能只是用大量X射线在染色体上戳了一个大洞，并需要提供基因“点”突变的证据。鉴于要通过实验来解决这一批评的任务艰巨而不确定，尤其是在尝试成为第一个产生基因突变的情况下，建议穆勒有意避免同行评审，而急于在《科学》杂志上发表论文以宣称发现优先性而不显示任何数据。本文还探讨了围绕这些行动的道德问题，包括《科学》杂志的编辑詹姆斯·麦肯·卡特尔（James McKeen Catell）和阿尔滕堡（Altenburg）的问题，以及它们随后对科学和法规界的影响。结论这项历史分析表明，穆勒故意避免对他最重要的发现进行同行评议，因为他对阿尔登堡的见解和严肃批评感到极为困扰，这表明他没有如他所声称的那样产生了基因突变。尽管如此，由于穆勒对基因突变的主张引起了广泛的欢欣鼓舞，他还是操纵了这种情况（例如，在《科学》杂志上发表了没有数据的讨论，在没有方法和材料的情况下发表了写得不好，未经同行评审的会议论文集，也没有参考文献）。和对Altenburg不会公开挑战他的信心。这种情况使穆勒得以实现自己的目标，成为第一个产生基因突变的人，同时又给他留出了时间来以后尝试通过实验来解决阿尔滕堡的批评，