user6307: I sometimes see answers in the review queue that have apparently been flagged/voted for deletion with the boilerplate comment "this does not answer the question...", or something to that effect. In the vast majority of cases where I encounter this, the post actually does answer the question. I suspect they are flagged because the answer is either wrong or short and lacking references. Is this a valid reason to delete answers?
Similarly, I occasionally (rarely) see answers which are later moved to comments. I think this is done by moderators because the answer is short (correct me if I'm wrong). If short answers should not be deleted, should they be moved to comments?
Here some related/duplicate topics: 

Flagging incorrect answers
Why was this answer moved to a comment?

I bring this up because those posts are rather old and I think it needs to be discussed again.

Here is a current example I came across in the review queue of a post that directly and correctly answers the question but has been flagged. The answer was subsequently deleted.

https://biology.stackexchange.com/a/57730/6307



user6307: I'm only posting this answer to give my opinion and relevant information I have found. Obviously I would also like other people's opinions as well.

If a post attempts to answer the question, it should not be deleted or moved to a comment. Wrong answers or "poor quality" right answers should be dealt with by voting and commenting. See these posts on meta:
How do I properly use the "Not an Answer" flag?

Do not use this flag when:

The user posts a partial answer
The answer is wrong or inaccurate, or you disagree with it
You have to consider the question, other answers, or even the comments on the answer itself in order to determine if an answer is not-an-answer


When should I delete an answer?

A: Answers that are answers but are factually wrong or are actively bad (say promote SQL Injection) should get downvoted, but not deleted.
Q: Why not vote to delete a -10 answer that is factually wrong and actively bad? To serve as an example? 
A: Because they still have a right to provide the answer, and seeing an approach widely considered wrong is still useful information, as opposed to trying to stick your head in the sand.


user27148: From the help:

Why and how are some answers deleted?
Answers that do not fundamentally answer the question may be removed. This includes answers that are:

commentary on the question or other answers
asking another, different question
“thanks!” or “me too!” responses
exact duplicates of other answers
barely more than a link to an external site
not even a partial answer to the actual question


When I flag "not an answer" I have this broad definition for what an answer is in mind. In other words, my behavior tends to follow this less-upvoted answer on meta rather than the more-upvoted one - oops? I'm not sure how much this is a problem or just a difference of opinion.
I think the most borderline case that I encounter frequently on this site is when another user comes along, usually on a post that is >6 months old, and adds a one-sentence answer that is completely contained in an existing up-voted answer and doesn't really address the question.
Here is another example: the answer provides some barely relevant side information and doesn't actually attempt to address the question in the OP.
Maybe the "low quality" flag is better in this case, but for some reason I have a real hesitancy to use that flag.

6307: <p>I sometimes see answers in the review queue that have apparently been flagged/voted for deletion with the boilerplate comment "this does not answer the question...", or something to that effect. In the vast majority of cases where I encounter this, the post actually does answer the question. I suspect they are flagged because the answer is either wrong or short and lacking references. Is this a valid reason to delete answers?</p>

<p>Similarly, I occasionally (rarely) see answers which are later moved to comments. I <em>think</em> this is done by moderators because the answer is short (correct me if I'm wrong). If short answers should not be deleted, should they be moved to comments?</p>

<p>Here some related/duplicate topics: </p>

<ul>
<li><p><a href="https://biology.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/2890/flagging-incorrect-answers">Flagging incorrect answers</a></p></li>
<li><p><a href="https://biology.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/3203/why-was-this-answer-moved-to-a-comment">Why was this answer moved to a comment?</a></p></li>
</ul>

<p>I bring this up because those posts are rather old and I think it needs to be discussed again.</p>

<hr>

<p>Here is a current example I came across in the review queue of a post that directly and correctly answers the question but has been flagged. The answer was subsequently deleted.</p>

<ul>
<li><p><a href="https://biology.stackexchange.com/a/57730/6307">https://biology.stackexchange.com/a/57730/6307</a></p>

<p><a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/7jaEG.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/7jaEG.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p></li>
</ul>
 6307: <p><em>I'm only posting this answer to give my opinion and relevant information I have found. Obviously I would also like other people's opinions as well.</em></p>

<hr>

<p>If a post attempts to answer the question, it should not be deleted or moved to a comment. Wrong answers or "poor quality" right answers should be dealt with by voting and commenting. See these posts on meta:</p>

<p><a href="https://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/185073/how-do-i-properly-use-the-not-an-answer-flag">How do I properly use the &quot;Not an Answer&quot; flag?</a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Do not use this flag when:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>The user posts a partial answer</li>
  <li>The answer is wrong or inaccurate, or you disagree with it</li>
  <li>You have to consider the question, other answers, or even the comments on the answer itself in order to determine if an answer is not-an-answer</li>
  </ul>
</blockquote>

<p><a href="https://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/163730/when-should-i-delete-an-answer/163733#163733">When should I delete an answer?</a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p><strong>A:</strong> Answers that are answers but are factually wrong or are actively bad (say promote SQL Injection) should get downvoted, but not deleted.</p>
  
  <p><strong>Q:</strong> Why <em>not</em> vote to delete a -10 answer that is factually wrong and actively bad? To serve as an example? </p>
  
  <p><strong>A:</strong> Because they still have a right to provide the answer, and seeing an approach widely considered wrong is still useful information, as opposed to trying to stick your head in the sand.</p>
</blockquote>
 27148: <p>From the <a href="https://biology.stackexchange.com/help/deleted-answers">help</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Why and how are some answers deleted?</p>
<p>Answers that do not fundamentally answer the question may be removed. This includes answers that are:</p>
<ul>
<li>commentary on the question or other answers</li>
<li>asking another, different question</li>
<li>“thanks!” or “me too!” responses</li>
<li>exact duplicates of other answers</li>
<li>barely more than a link to an external site</li>
<li>not even a partial answer to the actual question</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<p>When I flag &quot;not an answer&quot; I have this broad definition for what an answer is in mind. In other words, my behavior tends to follow <a href="https://meta.stackexchange.com/a/292391">this less-upvoted answer on meta</a> rather than the more-upvoted one - oops? I'm not sure how much this is a problem or just a difference of opinion.</p>
<p>I think the most borderline case that I encounter frequently on this site is when another user comes along, usually on a post that is &gt;6 months old, and adds a one-sentence answer that is completely contained in an existing up-voted answer and doesn't really address the question.</p>
<p><a href="https://biology.stackexchange.com/a/57522/27148">Here</a> is another example: the answer provides some barely relevant side information and doesn't actually attempt to address the question in the OP.</p>
<p>Maybe the &quot;low quality&quot; flag is better in this case, but for some reason I have a real hesitancy to use that flag.</p>
