Scientific Writing & Communication Flashcards

A researcher changes a value in a paper lab notebook. Which correction method preserves data integrity?

Answer: Draw a single line through it, write the correction, then initial and date it

A single strikethrough keeps the original entry readable and creates a traceable audit trail.

In the ALCOA data-integrity principles, what does the 'C' stand for?

Answer: Contemporaneous

ALCOA stands for Attributable, Legible, Contemporaneous, Original, and Accurate; 'contemporaneous' means recorded at the time the work is done.

A gel figure combines lanes from different parts of the same gel. What is the acceptable way to present it?

Answer: Mark the splice with dividing lines and state it in the legend

Journal image-integrity policies require spliced lanes to be marked clearly and disclosed.

Which adjustment to a gel image is generally acceptable for publication?

Answer: Brightness/contrast applied evenly across the whole image

Linear adjustments applied to the whole image are acceptable; local edits that remove or enhance features are not.

Under ICMJE criteria, which contribution alone does NOT qualify someone for authorship?

Answer: Acquiring funding or providing general supervision of the lab

ICMJE says funding acquisition or general supervision alone does not justify authorship; such contributors belong in the acknowledgments.

Where should raw high-throughput sequencing reads from an amplicon study usually be deposited before publication?

Answer: The NCBI Sequence Read Archive (SRA)

Raw sequencing reads belong in a public repository like SRA, with accession numbers cited in the data availability statement.

Which statement about a figure legend is correct?

Answer: It should be self-explanatory, defining symbols, error bars, and n

A good legend lets a reader understand the figure without the main text, including what the error bars show and the sample size.