The concept of the gene in development and evolution: historical and epistemological perspectives

Advances in molecular biological research in the latter half of the twentiethcentury have made the story of the gene vastly complicated: the more we learnabout genes, the less sure we are of what a gene really is. Knowledge about the structure and functioning of genes abounds, but the gene has also become curiously intangible. This collection of essays renews the question: what are genes? Philosophers, historians and working scientists re-evaluate the question in this volume, treating the gene as a focal point of interdisciplinary and international research. It will be of interest to professionals and students in the philosophy and history of science, genetics and molecular biology. INDICE: Introduction; Part I. Genes and Traits: 1. The dissolution of protein coding genes in molecular biology Thomas Fogle; 2. The differential concept of the gene: past and present Sara Schwartz; 3. Gene concepts and genetic concepts Fred Gifford; Part II. Extracting The Units Of Heredity: 4. From measurement to organization: a philosophical scheme for the history of the concept of heredity Jean Gayon; 5. From gene to genetic hierarchy: Richard Goldschmidt and the problem of the gene Michael R. Dietrich; 6. Seymour Benzer and the definition of the gene Frederic L. Holmes; Part III. Genetic Programs and Developmental Genes: 7. Decoding the genetic program Evelyn Fox Keller; 8. Genes classical and developmental: the different use of genes in evolutionary synthesis Scott F. Gilbert; 9. The developmental gene concept: history and limits MichelMorange; Part IV. Conceptual Perspectives: 10. Gene concepts: fragments from the perspective of molecular biology Hans-Jörg Rheinberger; 11. Reproduction and the reduction of genetics James R. Griesemer; 12. A unified view of the gene, or how to overcome reductionism Peter J. Beurton; The gene - a concept in tension: A critical overview Raphael Falk.

• ISBN: 978-0-521-06024-0
• Editorial: Cambridge University
• Encuadernacion: Rústica
• Páginas: 404
• Fecha Publicación: 24/04/2008
• Nº Volúmenes: 1
• Idioma: Inglés