Reductionism and complexity in molecular biology

Regenmortel, M.H.V. Van

doi:10.1038/sj.embor.7400284

Cited by 296 publications

(160 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…Reductionism is a belief that a larger system can be explained by breaking it down into smaller constituent elements. Thus, reductionists analyze a phenomenon or human behavior by breaking it down into pieces (Van Regenmortel, 2004).…”

Section: History Of Science Discipline Differentiationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Why Teach Science with an Interdisciplinary Approach: History, Trends, and Conceptual Frameworks

You¹

2017

JEL

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This study aims to describe the history of interdisciplinary education and the current trends and to elucidate the conceptual framework and values that support interdisciplinary science teaching. Many science educators have perceived the necessity for a crucial paradigm shift towards interdisciplinary learning as shown in science standards. Interdisciplinary learning in science is characterized as a perspective that integrates two or more disciplines into coherent connections to enable students to make relevant connections and generate meaningful associations. There is no question that the complexity of the natural system and its corresponding scientific problems necessitate interdisciplinary understanding informed by multiple disciplinary backgrounds. The best way to learn and perceive natural phenomena of the real world in science should be based on an effective interdisciplinary teaching. To support the underlying rationale for interdisciplinary teaching, the present study proposes theoretical approaches on how integrated knowledge of teachers affects their interdisciplinary teaching practices and student learning. This research further emphasizes a need for appropriate professional development programs that can foster the interdisciplinary understanding across various science disciplines.

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Section: History Of Science Discipline Differentiationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Why Teach Science with an Interdisciplinary Approach: History, Trends, and Conceptual Frameworks

You¹

2017

JEL

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“…As shown above, the systems biologists have described the problem in terms of reduction and emergence (see, e.g., Kitano 2007, 202;Butcher 2005, 465;Horrobin 2003, 153;van der Greef and Mc Burney 2005, 961;Kubinyi 2003, 665;Van Regenmortel 2004). In their analysis, the problem with mainstream drug development is that the behavior of biological systems cannot be reduced to the behavior of their molecular parts, but is emergent to the molecular level.…”

Section: Is Emergence the Problem?mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This includes that at least in principle, system properties can be fully explained by the properties of the parts, while emergent system properties could not be thus explained or predicted (cp. Carrier and Finzer 2006, 272;Van Regenmortel 2004, 1016. If system properties are emergent relative to molecular properties, it would be a matter of principle independent from the state of scientific knowledge and technological capacities that systems effects cannot be predicted and explained on the basis of molecular knowledge alone.…”

Section: Is Emergence the Problem?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Multi-Level Complexities in Technological Development: Competing Strategies for Drug Discovery

Adam

2010

Science in the Context of Application

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Drug development regularly has to deal with complex circumstances on two levels: the local level of pharmacological intervention on specific target proteins, and the systems level of the effects of pharmacological intervention on the organism. Different development strategies in the recent history of early drug development can be understood as competing attempts at coming to grips with these multi-level complexities. Both rational drug design and high-throughput screening concentrate on the local level, while traditional empirical search strategies as well as recent systems biology approaches focus on the systems level. The analysis of these strategies reveals serious obstacles to integrating the study of interventive and systems complexity in a systematic, methodical way. Due to some fairly general properties of biological networks and the available options for pharmaceutical intervention, drug development is captured in an obstinate methodological dilemma. It is argued that at least in typical cases, drug development therefore remains dependent on coincidence, serendipity or plain luck to bridge the gap between (empirical and/or rational) development methodology and actual therapeutic success. An obstinate dilemma in early drug developmentFor the successful development of technology, it is often crucial to pay close attention to a number of different complex circumstances. Development can be particularly demanding if the complexities lie on different levels of a system. For instance, the design of a technology can require, first, that the technological artifact intervenes in a highly sophisticated way on a specific part of a system. Second, this intervention might have to produce effects in the system as a whole that are mediated by complex systems mechanisms. In such a case, complexities on two levels have to be dealt with: complexity of (local) intervention and complexity of systems effects (or systems complexity).For drug development, both types of complexity play a major role. Pharmaceuticals typically act on target proteins, such as enzymes, receptors or ion channels. The interaction between (potential) drugs and these molecular targets is often highly complex and subject to comprehensive theoretical modeling, chemical design and empirical testing in drug development. This problem is local in nature, being associated with specific proteins and their manipulation by drug molecules. At the same time, the intended and unintended effects of pharmacological interventions lie on the level of entire systems such as cells, organs or the organism

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“…physics and/or chemistry, or ontological reductionism, which boils down to physical matter being the only reality in nature (Fang and Casadevall, 2011)). Although useful, reductionism is biased towards giving too much explanatory weight to single factors, and thereby disregards the immense complexity of any biological system (Van Regenmortel, 2004).…”

Section: Systems Biology 151 Reductionism and Holismmentioning

confidence: 99%

Organic acid production in Aspergillus niger and other filamentous fungi

Odoni

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Propositions1. Medium acidification is primarily a cause, rather than an effect, of Aspergillus niger citrate secretion.(this thesis) 2. A holistic systems biology approach should consider the organism in the context of its environment.(this thesis) 3. Metabolism has more than two spacial dimensions and should be studied as a system rather than a map.4. Cancer cells behave as a microorganism in a foreign environment.5. Referrals to authors rather than researchers highlights the skewed perception of scientific worth.6. Reviews can both progress and regress a field.7. Recent history suggests that "common sense" is an oxymoron.8. True understanding, and thus friendship, arises from a common mindset rather than a common nationality.Propositions belonging to the thesis, entitled

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Reductionism and complexity in molecular biology

Cited by 296 publications

References 42 publications

Why Teach Science with an Interdisciplinary Approach: History, Trends, and Conceptual Frameworks

Why Teach Science with an Interdisciplinary Approach: History, Trends, and Conceptual Frameworks

Multi-Level Complexities in Technological Development: Competing Strategies for Drug Discovery

Organic acid production in Aspergillus niger and other filamentous fungi

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