TRAJECTORIES OF COLLABORATION AND COMPETITION IN A MEDICAL DISCOVERY

In 1991, the myotonic dystrophy gene was cloned by researchers from Ca rdiff London, and elsewhere overseas. This article examines the relati onships between the different research groups. it shows that the scien tific collaboration on the myotonic dystrophy research was not a const ant, stable feature of scientific progress but a process whereby the r elationships among the scientists altered over time according to the s tage of the research. This process was mediated by vested interests, b y personalities, by the power differentials of the groups, by the reso urces of the groups, by subcollaborations, and by interactions with th ose outside the main research network. The collaboration can be seen a s a continuum, ranging from full cooperation with all parties to selec ted revelations to specific parties to intense competition. These coop erative and competitive relationships are seen primarily from the pers pective of one research group, with whom intensive field research was conducted.