In its early days, ca. 1945-1965, molecular biology was a particularly collegial undertaking, characterized by free sharing of research data and a relative lack of egotistical behavior. The reason for this marvel may well have been that there was so much to discover—so many low hanging fruits—that there was room for everybody and enough money for the pursuit. This was a special period in the history of science, not only because stunning discoveries were made with great frequency, but also for the way science was done.
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