Walking the Line between Lab and Computation: The “Moist” Zone

Epistemological differences between “wet” and “dry” research (experimentation and computation, respectively) result in practical problems in daily cooperation between researchers. We introduce wet and dry research as different styles of science and, using the example of nutrigenomic research, demonstrate that specific technologies can facilitate cooperation by helping to identify a common ground. To illustrate this point, we discuss the crucial role of the gene pathway map as a communication tool in scientific practice. Where wet and dry science meet, this may result in the formation of a “moist” zone, a site of exchange and cooperation. The existence of a moist zone teaches us about the inner workings of difficult cooperations and demonstrates how the moist zone further stabilizes wet and dry styles of science.