March 23, 2010
Bruce Charlton MD
Professor of Theoretical Medicine
University of Buckingham
Editor-in-Chief, Medical Hypotheses
bruce.charlton@ncl.ac.uk
Dear Dr. Charlton:
I was delighted to learn that you exist and what you are doing and distressed to learn that you are under such pressure as possibly not be able to help me. I refer to the article Elsever to Editor: Change Controversial Article or Resign SCIENCE vol. 327 no. 5971 March 12, 2010 page 1316.
I have a medical hypothesis that I believe merits serious study. The hypothesis is that fertility is determined by gene pool size: the smaller the better, and this phenomenon is having a strong demographic effect on humans now.
This is of course in conflict with the maxim often believed but never proven (outside severe inbreeding) that the bigger the gene pool the healthier and more fertile. Yet it has been documented in something like a thousand field studies in animals and at least two in humans. My own contribution has been to construct a C language computer program using standard genetic laws that shows the same effect in a virtual population. There is a large amount of supporting material from other sources.
I have myself been surprised by just how strong the effect is and just how small an optimal or even viable gene pool size is. And I am pleased to say that a probable mechanism has now been found, although its larger significance has not been noticed.
My problem is that this falls into no field. Of course it is a medical issue of fertility, but has ramifications – and evidence – extending far away. What’s worse, it is heresy.
I attach a poster that contains much of my best results. It will not take long to glance through. I could rewrite it as a paper if I knew the preferred format. Although this is hardly mainstream, I think the subject is so important that it deserves to see the light of day.
I have more data and my letters at nobabies.net.
I would much appreciate any guidance you can offer. Perhaps it could find its way into your journal. If I can clarify further or help in any way let me know.
Sincerely,
M. Linton Herbert MD
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