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Modeling systems-level dynamics: Understanding without mechanistic explanation in integrative systems biology

Miles MacLeod1, Nancy J Nersessian2

  • 1Centre of Excellence in the Philosophy of Social Sciences, Department of Political and Economic Studies, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 24, 00014, Finland.

Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences
|December 3, 2014
PubMed
Summary

Systems biology modeling often prioritizes prediction over mechanistic explanation. This pragmatic approach, termed top-down abstraction, yields practical understanding for controlling biological systems.

Keywords:
AbstractionComplexityMechanistic explanationSystems biologySystems-level understandingUnderstanding

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