"Molecular Biology"-Pleonasm or Denotation for a Discipline of Its Own? Reflections on the Origins of Molecular Biology and Its Situation Today.

central dogma discipline history molecular biology philosophy of science

Journal

Biomolecules
ISSN: 2218-273X
Titre abrégé: Biomolecules
Pays: Switzerland
ID NLM: 101596414

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
12 10 2023
Historique:
received: 24 06 2023
revised: 05 10 2023
accepted: 07 10 2023
medline: 30 10 2023
pubmed: 28 10 2023
entrez: 28 10 2023
Statut: epublish

Résumé

The disciplinary identity of molecular biology has frequently been called into question. Although the debates might sometimes have been more about creating or debunking myths, defending intellectual territory and the distribution of resources, there are interesting underlying questions about this area of biology and how it is conceptually organized. By looking at the history of molecular biology, its origins and development, I examine the possible criteria for its status as a scientific discipline. Doing so allows us to answer the title question in such a way that offers a reasonable middle ground, where molecular biology can be properly viewed as a viable interdisciplinary program that can very well be called a discipline in its own right, even if no strict boundaries can be established. In addition to this historical analysis, a couple of systematic issues from a philosophy of science perspective allow for some assessment of the current situation and the future of molecular biology.

Identifiants

pubmed: 37892193
pii: biom13101511
doi: 10.3390/biom13101511
pmc: PMC10605324
pii:
doi:

Types de publication

Journal Article Review Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Langues

eng

Sous-ensembles de citation

IM

Références

Proc Biol Sci. 2015 Aug 22;282(1813):20151019
pubmed: 26246559
Symp Soc Exp Biol. 1958;12:138-63
pubmed: 13580867
Biochem Soc Symp. 1970;30:5-10
pubmed: 4923830
Hist Sci. 1979 Mar;17(35 Pt 1):17-52
pubmed: 11610567
Nature. 1970 Aug 8;227(5258):561-3
pubmed: 4913914
J Hist Biol. 1990 Fall;23(3):389-409
pubmed: 11622436
J Hist Biol. 1982 Summer;15(2):281-315
pubmed: 11611044
J Hist Biol. 2002 Spring;35(1):1-4
pubmed: 12068891
Science. 1968 Apr 26;160(3826):390-5
pubmed: 4868510
Genetics. 1992 Feb;130(2):237-9
pubmed: 1541388
EMBO Rep. 2009 Aug;10 Suppl 1:S50-3
pubmed: 19636306
Biol Direct. 2012 Aug 23;7:27
pubmed: 22913395
Stud Hist Philos Biol Biomed Sci. 2009 Mar;40(1):43-53
pubmed: 19268873
Nat Biotechnol. 2004 Oct;22(10):1249-52
pubmed: 15470464
Stud Hist Philos Sci. 2019 Aug;76:24-29
pubmed: 31558206
Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1962 Mar 2;96:1093-104
pubmed: 14008214
Nature. 1961 Jun 17;190:1124
pubmed: 13684868
Elife. 2019 Apr 05;8:
pubmed: 30950793
Genetics. 1999 Nov;153(3):1071-6
pubmed: 10545442
Nature. 2023 Jan;613(7942):138-144
pubmed: 36600070
Nature. 2023 Feb;614(7948):401
pubmed: 36737545
Stud Hist Philos Biol Biomed Sci. 2011 Jun;42(2):139-44
pubmed: 21486651
J R Soc Med. 2008 Mar;101(3):104
pubmed: 18344463
J Hist Biol. 1971 Spring;4:119-48
pubmed: 11609432
Isis. 2008 Jun;99(2):341-9
pubmed: 18702403
Nature. 1970 Nov 14;228(5272):613-5
pubmed: 4920018
Hist Sci. 1985 Mar;23(59 pt 1):73-117
pubmed: 11611688
Stud Hist Philos Biol Biomed Sci. 2009 Mar;40(1):4-5
pubmed: 19268868
Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2009 Oct;1178:6-28
pubmed: 19845625
Stud Hist Philos Biol Biomed Sci. 2009 Mar;40(1):6-12
pubmed: 19268869
Wiley Interdiscip Rev RNA. 2022 Sep;13(5):e1718
pubmed: 35199457
Nature. 1961 Apr 8;190:184
pubmed: 13782405
Cell Syst. 2021 Jun 16;12(6):465-476
pubmed: 34139159
Stud Hist Philos Biol Biomed Sci. 2009 Mar;40(1):54-64
pubmed: 19268874
Science. 1974 Mar 22;183(4130):1164-72
pubmed: 17789214
EMBO Rep. 2009 Aug;10 Suppl 1:S42-5
pubmed: 19636303
Science. 1970 Nov 6;170(3958):581-2
pubmed: 4919180
Stud Hist Philos Biol Biomed Sci. 2011 Jun;42(2):115-8
pubmed: 21486648
Ber Wiss. 2022 Sep;45(3):462-467
pubmed: 36086837
EMBO Rep. 2004 Nov;5(11):1016-20
pubmed: 15520799
Hist Philos Life Sci. 2008;30(1):31-42
pubmed: 19203009

Auteurs

Gregor P Greslehner (GP)

Department of Philosophy, University of Vienna, Universitätsstraße 7, 1010 Vienna, Austria.

Articles similaires

Humans Thyroid Neoplasms Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine Molecular Targeted Therapy Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret
Machine Learning Drug Discovery Humans Artificial Intelligence COVID-19
Developmental Biology History, 21st Century Animals History, 20th Century Humans
Animal Welfare Animals Animal Experimentation Humans Ethics, Research

Classifications MeSH