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

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。它将重点关注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·索恩伯恩的职业生涯，以及他们研究的有机体，分别是纤毛单细胞原生动物、草履虫和疟原虫。该项目将考虑将原生动物作为模式生物的使用与詹宁斯和索恩伯恩通常采用的认知策略有关——即获得对生物的亲密知识。它将把这种策略与T. H. Morgan的果蝇学派及其许多后续项目所采用的以问题为导向的模式生物使用方法进行比较。本研究的目的是：(1)阐明支持Jennings和Sonneborn的生物学研究方法的潜在哲学信仰和社会政治优先事项；(2)比较20世纪遗传学研究中促进以生物为导向的方法与与竞争、以问题为导向的策略相关的信念和优先事项；(3)研究以生物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参与者的分析类别，如学科，因此将遵循詹宁斯，索恩伯恩和草履虫的职业生涯，进入动物行为，发育生物学，进化生物学以及遗传学的相关领域。本研究将通过阐明可供研究人员使用的模式生物的认知策略的多样性，丰富最近关于模式生物在生命科学中的功能的科学研究的讨论。此外，通过说明这些认知策略促进实验系统进化的不同手段，它将有助于最近对生命科学中实验系统动力学的思考。更广泛地说，通过对詹宁斯和索恩伯恩共同的科学生涯进行纵向研究，从1890年到1981年——对大多数近代科学研究来说，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影响。更广泛的影响本研究将阐明，来自生物实验室和期刊的遗传知识的本质并不是不可避免的，但是，由社会和政治优先事项以及哲学信仰所决定的方法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来传达给更广泛的受众。这项NSF学者奖提案的全部资金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。此外，学生还可以使用芝加哥大学图书馆的主要和次要研究资料，并参加一次会议以展示研究成果。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教育家。

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.