Some crystals are hard to make, so storing all the data the best way to get reproducibility. On the other hand, no one needs more images of lysozyme. So using the same standard for every deposition doesn't sound right.
The discussion should be held on the basis of overall cost to the research budget - not on the assumption that some costs can be externalised. It is too easy to say "you should store the images, in case I want to reprocess them sometime". IT isn't free, nor is it always cheaper than the associated experimental work. The key comparison is: Cost of growing new crystals + cost of beam line time With: Cost of storing images * probability of processing them again At present, detectors are improving more quickly than processing software. Sample preparation methods are also improving. These forces both press downward the probability that a particular image will ever be reprocessed. regards, Chris ____________________________________________ Chris Morris chris.mor...@stfc.ac.uk Tel: +44 (0)1925 603689 Fax: +44 (0)1925 603634 Mobile: 07921-717915 Skype: chrishgmorris http://pims.structuralbiology.eu/ http://www.citeulike.org/blog/chrishmorris Daresbury Lab, Daresbury, Warrington, UK, WA4 4AD
