The Big Bang Theory

The Big Bang Theory (2007)

3 corrected entries in The Bat Jar Conjecture

★★★★☆

(13 votes)

Previous episodeNext episode

The Bat Jar Conjecture - S1-E13

Corrected entry: Sheldon is very particular about sitting in his spot and not allowing anyone else into his spot. We learn later on in the series that he has been this way since Leonard moved in. However at the very end of this episode, we see Leonard sat in Sheldon's spot and Sheldon sat in the arm chair. (00:19:00)

Ssiscool ★

Correction: At the start of the scene, Sheldon attempts to sit in his spot, but Leonard doesn't let him, because his Physics Bowl trophy is sitting there and then Leonard moves slightly onto Sheldon's spot to make fun of him using the trophy. Presumably, he is just sitting on the arm chair because Leonard wouldn't move and he is just sitting in that seat reluctantly.

Casual Person

Correction: This point is addressed earlier in that episode. Leonard explains that he can talk once they're all mingled in with males (as in the audience).

Knever

Correction: In most cases, this would be true. But given the way things were set up, he had to pick a new, temporary spot for the practice. It's likely that their living room setup is too complex to change just for a short amount of time, which is why the practice area was set up as it was. Sheldon chose a spot related to the practice area so he would be comfortable, just like he chose a new spot when the gang went to the north pole.

Knever

More for The Big Bang Theory

Mistakes

The Pork Chop Indeterminacy - S1-E15

Character mistake: In his conversation with Missy Sheldon makes it clear that his superior intelligence is a result of a random, mutated gene. Since Missy isn't similarly intelligent she obviously isn't carrying this mutated gene (which would be a billion to one shot anyway) so her offspring wouldn't inherit it. Sheldon would know this - his offspring would carry the mutated gene for superior intelligence, Missy's would not. Anyone knowing enough about genetics to use the term 'randomly mutated gene' understands enough to know that the mutated gene would only be expressed in a direct line from the carrier - Sheldon. Also bear in mind he has a model of the DNA molecule in his living room - it is obviously an interest.

Upvote valid corrections to help move entries into the corrections section.

Suggested correction: Genes can be dormant. Which allows them to skip generations. Therefor Missy's children could actually get the "mutated" gene. This is especially true since Sheldon and Missy are twins. Also, since the episode is about who out of Leonard, Howard or Raj, Sheldon would allow to "mate" with his sister, there is the added "insurance" of getting any smart genes from any of the 3 Lothario's mentioned above.

If you are going to try to argue with a geneticist about genetics, please use the correct terms. Sheldon is not referring to a recessive gene - there is no such thing as a dormant gene - he is speaking of a randomly mutated gene. Those are the words he used. If he had inherited a homozygous recessive karotype - one recessive gene from each of his parents - then somewhere in his family tree there would similarly gifted people, in which case he would use the correct term - a recessive gene. If Missy is a heterozygotic dominant karotype possessing the recessive gene for super-genius and the dominant for ordinary intelligence then mating her with Howard, Raj or Leonard would be a waste of time as their dominant genius gene would prevent the recessive super-genius gene from being expressed in the phenotype of the resulting child. The child would be highly intelligent but not on Sheldon's standards. It doesn't matter if Sheldon does not know any of this as he refers several times to a randomly mutated gene, not a recessive one. Missy does not carry the super-genius gene. The posting is correct.

Sheldon is prone to magical thinking when necessary to preserve his obsessive need to control his environment. He may have simply ignored the flaw in his reasoning, as even the most intelligent humans do when venturing outside their ares of expertise. He may be interested in the science of genetics, but his Ph.D. in physics doesn't qualify him as an expert in that field.

More mistakes in The Big Bang Theory

Quotes

More quotes from The Big Bang Theory

Trivia

More trivia for The Big Bang Theory

Questions

Show generally

Question: How come Raj has no problem speaking to his mother, but, when around other women, such as Penny, he immediately stops talking? Also, why does he have to whisper in someone's ear if he wants to ask Penny something?

Answer: Because Raj's selective mutism seems to be caused by women that Raj sees (on some sort of conscious or subconscious level) as a potential sexual partner. An attribute that wouldn't apply to either his sister or mother.

More questions & answers from The Big Bang Theory

Join the mailing list

Separate from membership, this is to get updates about mistakes in recent releases. Addresses are not passed on to any third party, and are used solely for direct communication from this site. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Check out the mistake & trivia books, on Kindle and in paperback.