Understanding Science and Scientific Methods:
An Overview for Lawyers

SUMMARY -- 12 September 2005

Class on 29 August 2005 Covered Topics 1 and 2.a. on the Syllabus

1. Overview -- The Collision of Science and the Law --
   
   
   1. Differences between Science and the Law
      
      
   2. Epistemological questions: (Epistemology -- Part of Philosophy that deals with the origin, nature, and limits of knowledge)
      
      
      1. What is scientific knowledge?
         
         
      2. How do you distinguish science from non-science? (Scientific Validity)
         
         
      3. When is scientific knowledge reliable?
         
         
      4. Should scientific knowledge have a special status?
         
         
2. Dioxin and Agent Orange
   
   
   1. Basic Science of Dioxin --
      
      
      1. A man-made family of chlorinated chemicals
         
         
      2. They are fat-soluble
         
         
      3. Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin -- TCDD -- the most toxic and famous has a biological half-life in humans ³ 7 years.
         
         
      4. Shown to be a very Potent Carcinogen and Teratogen in animal tests.
         
         
      5. TCDD works by latching onto the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR).
         
         
      6. Dose-Response Function not known with certainty
         
         
      7. Chloracne and an increased risk of cancer are the best documented toxic effects.
         
         
      8. Yushchenko -- 100,000 picograms TCDD per gram of blood fat. RECORD -- 144,000 pg TCDD/g blood fat
         
         
   2. The Use of Agent Orange in Vietnam