Genes `for' phenotypes: A modern history view

Biology and Philosophy 16 (2):189--213 (2001)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

We attempt to improve the understanding of the notion of agene being `for a phenotypic trait or traits. Considering theimplicit functional ascription of one thing being `for another,we submit a more restrictive version of `gene for talk.Accordingly, genes are only to be thought of as being forphenotypic traits when good evidence is available that thepresence or prevalence of the gene in a population is the resultof natural selection on that particular trait, and that theassociation between that trait and the gene in question isdemonstrably causal. It is therefore necessary to gatherstatistical, biochemical, historical, as well as ecologicalinformation before properly claiming that a gene is for aphenotypic trait. Instead of hampering practical use of the `genefor talk, our approach aims at stimulating much needed researchinto the functional ecology and comparative evolutionary biologyof gene action.

Other Versions

No versions found

Similar books and articles

Why genes are like lemons.F. Boem, E. Ratti, M. Andreoletti & G. Boniolo - 2016 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part C: Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences 57 (June):88-95.
Developmental causation and the problem of homology.David A. Baum - 2013 - Philosophy, Theory, and Practice in Biology 5 (20150505).
Development as an Adaptation: A Philosophical Contribution to the Developmental Synthesis.Roger B. Sansom - 2002 - Dissertation, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The Evolutionary Gene and the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis.Qiaoying Lu & Pierrick Bourrat - 2017 - British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 69 (3):775-800.
Gene Centrism, Causal Specificity and Missing Heritability.Gökhan Akbay - 2021 - Revista Portuguesa de Filosofia 77 (4):1455-1478.

Analytics

Added to PP
2009-01-28

Downloads
1,231 (#14,838)

6 months
177 (#20,640)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Author Profiles

Massimo Pigliucci
CUNY Graduate Center
Jonathan Kaplan
Oregon State University