Intimate Biology: Epistemic Strategies, Research Organisms, and the Career of American Protozoan Genetics

亲密生物学：认知策略、研究生物体和美国原生动物遗传学的事业

• 批准号: 0648848
• 负责人: Judith Schloegel
• 金额: $ 9.44万
• 依托单位: Schloegel Judith J
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2007
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2007-08-01 至 2010-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0648848&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Intimate; Biology; Epistemic; Strategies; Research

IntroductionThe research project proposed will analyze the epistemic strategy of an organism-oriented approach to the use of model organisms in experimental biology by examining the history of protozoan genetics in the United States. It will focus on the careers of American biologists and geneticists, Herbert Spencer Jennings and his student, Tracy Sonneborn, and their research organisms, the ciliated unicellular protozoa, Paramecium and P. aurelia, respectively. The project will consider the use of protozoa as model organisms in relation to the epistemic strategy with which they generally were employed by Jennings and Sonneborn -- that of gaining intimate knowledge of the organisms. It will compare this strategy with the problem-oriented approach to the use of model organisms largely practiced by T. H. Morgan's Drosophila school and its many successor programs. The objectives of this research are: (1) to elucidate the underlying philosophical beliefs and sociopolitical priorities that supported Jennings' and Sonneborn's approach to biological research; (2) to compare the beliefs and priorities that facilitated an organism-oriented approach with those associated with the competing, problem-oriented strategy in twentieth century genetics research; and (3) to examine the function of an organism-centered epistemic strategy in the dynamics of experimental systems in the life sciences. The historical method employed likewise will prioritize actors to analytical categories such as disciplines, and thus will follow the careers of Jennings, Sonneborn, and Paramecium into the related domains of animal behavior, developmental biology, and evolutionary biology, as well as that of genetics.Intellectual MeritThis study will enrich recent discussions in science studies on the function of model organisms in the life sciences by illuminating the diversity of epistemic strategies for the use of model organisms available to researchers. Furthermore, it will contribute to recent thinking on the dynamics of experimental systems in the life sciences by illustrating the diverse means by which these epistemic strategies facilitate the evolution of experimental systems. Most broadly, by offering a longitudinal study spanning the joint scientific careers of Jennings and Sonneborn, from 1890 to 1981 -- a uniquely long span of time for most studies of recent science -- it will highlight the long-term consequences of scientists' values and commitments for the development of later scientific research.Broader ImpactThis study will illuminate that the nature of genetic knowledge emanating from biological laboratories and journals is not inevitable, but that methodological choices informed by social and political priorities and philosophical beliefs have and will affect many aspects of biological experimentation, including the use of particular research organisms. This message will be communicated to a broader audience through publication of articles in biological journals committed to disseminating research on biology and society. Full funding of this NSF Scholar's Award proposal will provide support for two calendar years full-time research and writing, including travel to five US archives containing materials vital to the success of this project. Support also provides for access to the University of Chicago Library for use of primary and secondary research materials, and travel to one conference to present research results. The primary products of the proposed research will be a book and two journal articles that will disseminate the PI's research to a broader audience, consisting primarily of life scientists and biology educators.

引言拟议的研究项目将通过研究美国原生动物遗传学的历史，分析以生物体为导向的方法在实验生物学中使用模式生物的认识策略。它将集中在美国生物学家和遗传学家，赫伯特斯宾塞詹宁斯和他的学生，特雷西Sonneborn，和他们的研究有机体，纤毛单细胞原生动物，草履虫和P的职业生涯。奥雷利亚，分别。该项目将考虑使用原生动物作为模式生物体，与Jennings和Sonneborn通常采用的认识策略有关-即获得对生物体的深入了解。它将比较这一战略与问题导向的方法来使用模式生物主要是由T。H.摩根的果蝇学校及其许多后继项目。本研究的目的是：（1）阐明支持Jennings和Sonneborn的生物学研究方法的基本哲学信念和社会政治优先事项;（2）比较促进生物体导向方法的信念和优先事项与20世纪世纪遗传学研究中与竞争有关的、面向问题的策略;（3）探讨以生物体为中心的认知策略在生命科学实验系统动力学中的作用。同样采用的历史方法将优先考虑行为者的分析类别，如学科，因此将遵循詹宁斯，Sonneborn和草履虫的职业生涯进入动物行为，发育生物学和进化生物学的相关领域，本研究将丰富最近关于模式生物在生命科学中的功能的科学研究中的讨论，多样性的认知策略的使用模式生物提供给研究人员。此外，它将有助于最近的思考在生命科学中的实验系统的动力学，说明这些认知策略促进实验系统的演变的不同手段。更广泛地说，通过提供一项跨越詹宁斯和索恩伯恩共同科学生涯的纵向研究，从1890年到1981年--对于大多数对近代科学的研究来说，这是一个独特的长时间跨度--它将突出长期的，科学家的价值观和承诺对以后科学研究的发展的长期后果。更广泛的影响这项研究将阐明，遗传知识的性质源于生物学实验室和期刊的出版物的出版并非不可避免，但根据社会和政治优先事项以及哲学信仰作出的方法选择已经并将影响生物学实验的许多方面，包括使用特定的研究生物体。这一信息将通过在致力于传播生物学和社会研究的生物学期刊上发表文章传达给更广泛的受众。该NSF学者奖提案的全额资助将为两个日历年的全职研究和写作提供支持，包括前往五个美国档案馆，其中包含对该项目成功至关重要的材料。还提供支助，供人们使用芝加哥大学图书馆的主要和次要研究材料，并前往一次会议介绍研究成果。拟议研究的主要产品将是一本书和两篇期刊文章，将PI的研究传播给更广泛的受众，主要包括生命科学家和生物学教育工作者。