The transition from alchemy to empirical sciences involved a gradual changeover from closed informational systems to open ones. The discoveries of alchemists were closely guarded secrets and one of the strengths of modern science was its emphasis on the open publication of new findings. In the first half of the 20^th century open informational systems were predominant except in military applications such as nuclear weaponry. In the second half of the 20^th century, however, the commercialization of scientific activities resulted in a trend toward closed informational systems.

This switch to closed informational system foreshadows a return to alchemy. This may not be evident to the public because the closed systems are always defended "in the name of science". Recent statements of Professor Patrick Bateson, vice president of the Royal Society, are a good example. In what was billed as a scientific debate, he angrily attacked activists opposing genetically modified (GM) animal research: "Those who are morally opposed to this research attempt to impose on the rest of society their views that GM technology is a sinister new twist in humanity's quest to conquer nature."

This peculiar statement illustrates an important principle: Information systems determine the nature of the enterprises that use them. Closed information systems produce closed minds. Enterprises with closed systems become intolerant, paranoid, and, often, elitist. Although the GM critics were invited to debate these issues, Bateson dismisses his opponents as a "pressure group" and accuses them of "drowning out the debate over the future direction of GM research by exaggerating the suffering to animals and minimising the benefits to society".

Although GM technology claims to be scientific, it operates with closed information systems. This is why it has so quickly degenerated into alchemy. For example, Bateson sounds like an ancient alchemist when he claims that "Animals that can be genetically modified are increasingly important for human diseases, such as cancer, muscular dystrophy and cystic fibrosis, and in assessing new therapies that one day may relieve the suffering of millions of patients."  In point of fact, the closed GM informational systems provide no valid scientific evidence to support Bateson's claim that GM animal experiments may help "millions of patients". Indeed. there is no good evidence that GM animal experiments have led to cures of a single patient with any of the named diseases.

That a vice president of the Royal Society would makes such sweeping claims without offering any factual evidence to support them illustrates this point: In those disciplines where, for commercial or military reasons, the informational systems have been closed, alchemy quickly replaces science; Hence, I nominate Patrick Bateson as president of a new Royal Society of Alchemy.

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