The Dinosaur Feather

nodded in an off-hand manner.
    ‘You also write several times that, in terms of evolution, it would be wasteful to develop complex contour feathers, which would only be used for insulation. Ergo, the structures might
look
like feathers, but they aren’t
real
feathers. Rather than
Archaeopteryx
, you and your supporters point to the archosaur,
Longisquama
, as the likely candidate for the ancestor of birds, is that correct?’
    ‘That’s right.’ Professor Freeman had regained his footing, but Anna could tell that he wasn’t enjoying it.
    ‘So now we turn to theoretical science issues, still on the premise that you agree with the rules for scientific integrity, as stated on that sheet of paper. Do we still agree on those rules?’
    ‘Yes,’ Freeman croaked.
    ‘Then how do you explain that you, in two papers, one from 1995 and the other from 2002, are critical of the feather-like structures found on
Longisquama
, and argue that these structures bear a striking resemblance to plant material, when you, in a paper from 2000 claim, in great detail, that these very structures seal a homologous relationship between modern birds and
Longisquama
?
Plant material
, Professor Freeman?’
    Freeman made to say something, but Anna carried on regardless.
    ‘It beggars belief that you dare to assume that
Longisquama
is an archosaur which, according to many experts is by no means certain, and simultaneously you reveal a naive understanding of falsification. It’s not enough to claim that
Longisquama
is bird-like, that’s quite simply not a convincing reason to let
Longisquama
push
Archaeopteryx
off the throne.’ Anna glanced at Freeman before she went on, knowing full well that Freeman was on the verge of exploding.
    ‘I have two further theoretical science disparities associated with your argumentation concerning feathers, then I’ll let you go. In an article in
Nature
in 2001, you state that it’s impossible to establish whether predatory dinosaur feathers are homologous with those of modern birds, because the claim cannot be tested bio-chemically. But elsewhere . . .’ Anna leafed through her notes. ‘More specifically in your 2001 book
The Birds
, on page 114, you claim that it “
is not scientifically correct to use bio-chemical analyses to determine if
Longisquama’s
appendage was animal or vegetable
,” which, for me, is a striking example of the inconsistency which characterises most of your general argumentation. You let the validity of an argument depend on the actual situation, and that isn’t in accordance with prevailing rules for good science.’
    Professor Freeman was white as a sheet.
    ‘Last, but not least, you write in 2000 and in 2002, in
Science
and
Scientific Today
respectively, that it’s impossible to imagine that a structure as complex as a feather might have evolved independently in different situations, which is likely to be correct. However, the inconsistency arises the moment you, on several occasions in 1996, 1999 and 2000, argue brazenly that other, equally complex structures found in both birdsand dinosaurs, such as the half-moon-shaped carpal, might well be the result of convergent evolution. Isn’t it absurd that the feather, according to you, could
not
have evolved independently, while the half-moon-shaped carpal
could
?’ Anna raised her eyebrows and looked at Professor Freeman.
    ‘Have you finished?’ he groaned.
    ‘Yes,’ Anna said. ‘I’ve proved the same kind of sweeping inconsistency and absence of methodology in respect of your arguments about stratigraphic disjunction, the carpus, the furcula, the ascending process of the talus bone, the fingers of the bird hand and the orientation of the pubic bone. However, I think my time’s up.’
    Nothing happened for several seconds. The air stood still and Anna’s heart raced. Then Professor Freeman pushed back his chair and walked out.
    Anna let herself fall into Freeman’s empty chair. She heard his footsteps fade away, she heard the doors close, she sensed how his defeat was absorbed by the stillness of the room. Her heartbeat slowly returned to normal.
    ‘You can come out now, Dr Tybjerg,’ she said.
    She didn’t say it very loud; she knew he was close by.
    Anna and Dr Tybjerg put Karen and Lily on the number 18 bus. Tybjerg was less than thrilled, but Anna had insisted and helped him into his jacket as though he was a child.
    ‘I’ll be there in an hour,’ Anna promised. Karen looked dubious.
    ‘Karen,