Membrane Transport: Biology/History/Philosophy

罗宾逊教授正在研究生物学研究的一个主流领域，以便更好地描述生物学的发展历程，并分析实验科学工作中涉及的问题。为了进行这项研究，他选择了代表实验方法的案例研究，以确定(I)造成细胞及其环境之间Na+和K+不对称分布的机制，以及(Ii)将营养物质的氧化与细胞线粒体产生ATP联系起来的机制。这些探索集中在生物膜主动转运的配方中，并导致认识到利用ATP产生离子梯度的酶，消耗离子梯度的ATP合成酶，以及作为驱动细胞功能的潜在能量储存库的ATP和离子梯度的作用。案例研究还代表了各种实验起源和结果：理论驱动和偶然发现、证伪和对证伪、确证、争议、共识的免疫力，以及通过简化论计划实现概念上的统一。这个项目的目标包括提请历史学家和科学哲学家注意这种普通的做法，并向工作的科学家说明他们辛劳的一些实践和理论方面--包括竞争研究项目成功和失败的原因和后果。

Professor Robinson is studying a mainstream area of biological research in order to describe better the course of biology's development and to analyze the issues involved in the workings of experimental science. In order to carry out this research, he has selected case studies that represent experimental approaches to determining the mechanisms responsible (i) for creating the asymmetric distribution of Na+ and K+ between cells and their environments and (ii) for linking the oxidation of nutrients to the production of ATP by the cell mitochondria. These inquires converged in formulations of active transport across biological membranes, and led to the recognition of ATP-utilizing enzymes that create ion gradients, ATP-synthesizing enzymes that consume ion gradients, and the role of both ATP and ion gradients as potential energy reservoirs for driving cellular function. The case studies also represent the variety of experimental origins and outcomes: theory-driven and serendipitous discovery, falsification and immunity to falsification, corroboration, controversy, consensus formation, and the attainment of conceptual unity through the reductionist program. The goals of this project include drawing to the attention of historians and philosophers of science such ordinary practice, and illustrating to working scientists some practical and theoretical aspects of their toils--including causes and consequences of success and failure in rival research programs.