user3340: Would it be possible to progress from a Q&A forum to a collaborative research ground ? 
I am sure this idea may not be fully practicable immediately and there may be lot of issues with conflicts of interest, but I think the power of connectivity should be fully harnessed. 
Some of the questions asked in the forums are quite interesting and the discussions can be transformed into a proper article. 
I am just curious to know if this is even a good idea? 

user63: Your goal is a worthy one… unfortunately, it's just not the type of problem Stack Exchange was designed to solve. A Stack Exchange-style Q&A is not a think tank forum which can facilitate collaborative research to solve the world's problems in Biology. It simply was not designed for that purpose.
Instead, we hope to use the expertise gathered here compile a well-vetted, reliable canon of knowledge about the subject, and to (hopefully) displace the misinformation rampant on the Internet. That is the goal for this site.
It's not that we don't find these discussions worthwhile — they're integral to the field of biology — but it is just not part of what WE do. Those type of talking-point and deliberative questions require a style of back-and-forth discussion that Stack Exchange was explicitly designed to avoid (i.e. post your best answer, not a discussion forum, no chit chat, etc). It's a good idea, but it would have to be an entirely different product than what we provide today.

3340: <p>Would it be possible to progress from a Q&amp;A forum to a collaborative research ground ? </p>

<p>I am sure this idea may not be fully practicable immediately and there may be lot of issues with conflicts of interest, but I think the power of connectivity should be fully harnessed. </p>

<p>Some of the questions asked in the forums are quite interesting and the discussions can be transformed into a proper article. </p>

<p>I am just curious to know if this is even a good idea? </p>
 63: <p>Your goal is a worthy one&hellip; unfortunately, it's just not the type of problem Stack Exchange was designed to solve. A Stack Exchange-style Q&amp;A is <em>not</em> a think tank forum which can facilitate collaborative research to solve the world's problems in Biology. It simply was not <em>designed</em> for that purpose.</p>

<p>Instead, we hope to use the expertise gathered here compile a well-vetted, reliable canon of knowledge about the subject, and to (hopefully) displace the <em>misinformation</em> rampant on the Internet. <em>That</em> is the goal for this site.</p>

<p>It's not that we don't find these discussions worthwhile &mdash; they're integral to the field of biology &mdash; but it is just not part of what <em>WE</em> do. Those type of talking-point and deliberative questions require a style of back-and-forth discussion that Stack Exchange was explicitly designed to avoid (i.e. post your best answer, not a discussion forum, no chit chat, etc). It's a good idea, but it would have to be an entirely different product than what we provide today.</p>
