Membrane Transport: Biology/History/Philosophy

罗宾逊教授正在研究生物学的主流领域 为了更好地描述生物学的过程， 发展和分析的工作中涉及的问题， 实验科学 为了进行这项研究，他 代表实验方法的选定案例研究， 确定负责（一）建立 Na+和K+在细胞间的不对称分布及其 环境和（ii）将营养物质的氧化与环境联系起来 细胞线粒体产生ATP。 这些询问 在生物学中的主动转运公式中融合 膜，并导致识别ATP利用酶， 产生离子梯度，ATP合成酶消耗离子 梯度，以及ATP和离子梯度作为电位的作用 驱动细胞功能的能量库。 案例研究 也代表了实验的起源和结果的多样性： 理论驱动和偶然发现，证伪和 伪造、确证、争议、共识的豁免权 形成，并通过概念统一的实现， 简化程序。 该项目的目标包括绘制 历史学家和科学哲学家的注意力 普通的做法，并说明工作的科学家一些 实践和理论方面-包括原因 以及竞争对手研究项目中成功和失败的后果。

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.