Theory Structure and Scientific Change in Molecular Biology

分子生物学的理论结构和科学变迁

• 批准号: 9212313
• 负责人: Kenneth Schaffner
• 金额: $ 4.5万
• 依托单位: George Washington University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 1992
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1992-07-01 至 1995-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9212313&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Theory; Structure; Scientific; Change; Molecular

Professor Schaffner is examining theory structure and research strategies in molecular biology. In order to develop a more general approach to these issues, he is first undertaking three detailed case studies: a recent historical inquiry into the molecular explanation of the generation of antibody diversity; simple molecular learning mechanisms in Aplysia; and the genetic control of the life cycle of the HIV virus. These case studies are intended to lead to a broader conceptualization of theory structure and research strategies in molecular biology. This conceptualization should include an examination of the conceptual structure of theories, models, mechanisms, principles, and generalizations in molecular biology, and their relations to experimental results and new experimental technologies. Professor Schaffner is then considering ways in which these elements (e.g. theories, models, principles . . .) change as science progresses, and what dynamical factors drive such changes. As part of this study, he is examining various heuristics for theory and model changes and the proposal and evaluation of laboratory experiments.

沙夫纳教授正在研究分子生物学的理论结构和研究策略。 为了对这些问题制定更通用的方法，他首先进行了三个详细的案例研究：最近对抗体多样性产生的分子解释的历史调查； 海兔的简单分子学习机制；以及艾滋病病毒生命周期的基因控制。 这些案例研究旨在对分子生物学的理论结构和研究策略产生更广泛的概念化。 这种概念化应包括对分子生物学理论、模型、机制、原理和概括的概念结构及其与实验结果和新实验技术的关系的检查。 沙夫纳教授随后正在考虑这些要素（例如理论、模型、原理……）随着科学的进步而变化的方式，以及驱动这些变化的动力因素。 作为这项研究的一部分，他正在研究理论和模型变化的各种启发法以及实验室实验的建议和评估。