Structure and Comparison of Genetic Theories

(2) The Reduction of Character-Factor Genetics to Molecular Genetics

Bibliographic Data

ID8399337
AuthorsW Balzer (Munich School of Philosophy), C M Dawe (Birkbeck, University of London)
Year1986
Volume37
Issue2
Pages177-191
Publication date1986-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe British Journal for the Philosophy of Science (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0007-0882 • E-ISSN: 1464-3537
PublisherOxford University Press (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1093/bjps/37.2.177
OpenAlexW2167308497
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited2

The present paper has two aims. First, we reconstruct the core of molecular genetics (MOLGEN) i.e. the array of theoretical assumptions which underly all or most applications of molecular genetics. Second, we define a reduction relation p reducing character-factor genetics (CFG) to MOLGEN. That p is a reduction relation is proved by establishing that p satisfies the two major conditions which are discussed in the literature as necessary or ‘essential’ for reduction. This substantiates the claim that molecular genetics is ‘better than’ or ‘more progressive-than’ character-factor genetics-which is commonly held true today.The paper continues, and relies heavily on the definitions given in part 1 (Balzer and Dawe [1985]). The enumeration of the definitions and sections in the present paper continues that of part 1. References to definitions with numbers smaller than 8 and to sections number I-4 always refer to part 1.

Biology · Character (mathematics) · Evolutionary biology · Gene · Genetic variation · Molecular genetics · Quantitative genetics · Reduction (mathematics) · Relation (database) · Computer Science · Genetics · Genetics, Bioinformatics, and Biomedical Research · Mathematics

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