Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-g8jcs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T04:23:36.605Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

On the Reduction of Genetics to Molecular Biology

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 April 2022

Steven Orla Kimbrough
Steven Orla Kimbrough*
Affiliation:
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The applicability of Nagel's concept of theory reduction, and related concepts of reduction, to the reduction of genetics to molecular biology is examined using the lactose operon in Escherichia coli as an example. Geneticists have produced the complete nucleotide sequence of two of the genes which compose this operon. If any example of reduction in genetics should fit Nagel's analysis, the lactose operon should. Nevertheless, Nagel's formal conditions of theory reduction are inapplicable in this case. Instead, it is argued that genetics has been partially reduced to molecular biology in the sense of token-token reduction.

Type
Research Article
Information
Philosophy of Science , Volume 46 , Issue 3 , September 1979 , pp. 389 - 406
Copyright
Copyright © Philosophy of Science Association 1979

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bridges, C. B. (1916), “Non-disjunction as Proof of the Chromosome Theory of Heredity.” Genetics 1: 1–52; 107–163.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Causey, R. (1972), “Uniform Microreductions.” Synthese 25: 176–217.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Darnell, J. E. Jr. (1978), “Implications of RNA · RNA Splicing in Evolution of Eucaryotic Cells.” Science 202: 1257–1260.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dickson, R. C. et al. (1975), “Genetic Regulation: The Lac Control Region.” Science 187: 27–35.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dretske, F. I. (1977), “Laws of Nature.” Philosophy of Science 44: 248–268.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Enc, B. (1976), “Identity Statements and Microreductions.” Journal of Philosophy 73: 285–306.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fodor, J. A. (1975), The Language of Thought. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell Company.Google Scholar
Goosens, W. K. (1978), “Reduction by Molecular Genetics.” Philosophy of Science 45: 73–95.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hartl, D. L. (1977), “Applications of Meiotic Drive in Animal Breeding and Population Control.” Proceedings of the International Conference on Quantitative Genetics. Pollak, Edward, et al. (eds.) Ames: The Iowa State University Press.Google Scholar
Hull, D. (1974), Philosophy of Biological Science. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall.Google Scholar
Hull, D. (1976), “Informal Aspects of Theory Reduction.” In PSA-1974, Boston Studies in the Philosophy of Science 32. Cohen, R. S., et al. (eds.) Dordrecht: Reidel.Google Scholar
Moline, J. (1975), “Provided Nothing External Interferes.” Mind 84: 224–254.Google Scholar
Nagel, E. (1961), The Structure of Science. Harcourt, Brace & World, Inc.Google Scholar
Ruse, M. (1976), “Reductionism in Genetics.” In PSA-1974, Boston Studies in the Philosophy of Science 32. Cohen, R. S., et al. (eds.) Dordrecht: Reidel.Google Scholar
Schaffner, K. (1976), “Reductionism in Biology.” In PSA-1974, Boston Studies in the Philosophy of Science 32. Cohen, R. S. et al. (eds.) Dordrecht: Reidel.Google Scholar
Smart, J. J. C. (1963), Philosophy and Scientific Realism. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.Google Scholar