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

前言提出的研究项目将通过考察美国原生动物遗传学的历史，分析以生物为导向的方法在实验生物学中使用模式生物的认知策略。它将聚焦于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蕾西·桑尼伯恩的职业生涯，以及他们的研究有机体--纤毛虫、单细胞原生动物草履虫和草履虫。该项目将考虑使用原生动物作为模型生物体，这与詹宁斯和桑尼伯恩通常采用的认知策略有关--即获得对有机体的密切了解。它将把这一策略与T.H.摩根的果蝇学派及其许多后续项目主要采用的以问题为导向的模式有机体的使用方法进行比较。这项研究的目的是：(1)阐明支持詹宁斯和索尼伯恩生物学研究方法的潜在哲学信念和社会政治优先事项；(2)比较促进以有机体为导向的方法的信念和优先事项，以及与20世纪遗传学研究中竞争的、以问题为导向的策略相关的信念和优先事项；以及(3)检查以有机体为中心的认知策略在生命科学实验系统动态中的作用。同样采用的历史方法将把行为者优先归入分析类别，如学科，因此将跟随詹宁斯、桑尼伯恩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以及遗传学的相关领域。智力价值这项研究将通过阐明研究人员使用模型生物的认知策略的多样性，丰富最近科学研究中关于模型生物在生命科学中的作用的讨论。此外，它将通过说明这些认知策略促进实验系统进化的不同方法，有助于最近对生命科学中实验系统动力学的思考。最广泛地说，通过提供一项横跨1890年至1981年詹宁斯和桑尼伯恩共同科学生涯的纵向研究--对于大多数现代科学研究来说，这是一个独特的长时间跨度--它将突出科学家的价值观和承诺对后来科学研究发展的长期后果。广泛影响这项研究将阐明，来自生物实验室和期刊的遗传知识的性质并不是不可避免的，但受到社会和政治优先事项和哲学信仰影响的方法论选择已经并将影响生物实验的许多方面，包括使用特定的研究有机体。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向更广泛的受众传达。对这项NSF学者奖提案的全额资助将为两个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，其中包含对该项目的成功至关重要的材料。支助还允许进入芝加哥大学图书馆使用一手和二手研究材料，并前往一次会议介绍研究成果。这项拟议研究的主要产品将是一本书和两篇期刊文章，这些文章将向更广泛的受众传播PI的研究，这些受众主要由生命科学家和生物教育工作者组成。

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.