From community to ‘collaboratory’? The Human Genome Mapping Project and the changing culture of science

There have been several sociological attempts to conceptualise the scientific community initially based on the customary view of science developed by Merton. In extending these accounts, this paper focuses on attempts to develop and apply the notion of a ‘collaboratory’ to the scientists who study a model organism for the Human Genome Mapping Project (HGMP). This community exhibits many of the traditional characteristics associated with the customary view of science, but communicates electronically using the Worm Community System. Four areas of concern are explored which challenge the utility of this model in addressing the organisational and managerial concerns raised by the advent of a big science development such as HGMP in molecular biology. The conclusion is that the adoption of the ‘collaboratory’ model may have no real impact on accepted views of the culture of science. Copyright , Beech Tree Publishing.