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DNA is not an ontologically distinctive developmental cause.

Davide Vecchi1

  • 1Centro de Filosofia das Ciências, Departamento de História e Filosofia das Ciências, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016, Lisboa, Portugal.

Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences
|January 4, 2020
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

DNA is not an ontologically unique cause of development. Mechanistic analysis reveals its role depends on robust developmental systems and its capacities within a rich milieu, challenging DNA-centric views.

Keywords:
Causal parityCausal specificityCausationDeterminationDevelopmentRobustnessSwitch-point

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Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Philosophy of Science
  • Genetics

Background:

  • The traditional view posits DNA as a primary, ontologically distinct cause of development.
  • Alternative perspectives include DNA-centric biology and developmental constructionism.
  • Understanding the precise causal role of DNA in development remains a key question.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To critically evaluate the thesis of DNA as an ontologically distinctive developmental cause.
  • To analyze different versions of this thesis using concrete developmental examples.
  • To propose an alternative framework for understanding DNA's causal role in development.

Main Methods:

  • Critical analysis of existing theses on DNA's developmental role.
  • Examination of specific developmental case studies.
  • Mechanistic analysis of DNA's causal capacities within developmental systems.

Main Results:

  • DNA is neither a developmental determinant nor an ontologically distinctive cause.
  • DNA's causal role is contingent on the robustness of developmental processes.
  • A process- and system-focused metaphysical shift is proposed for understanding DNA's function.
  • DNA's causal capacities are best understood within a rich developmental milieu.

Conclusions:

  • The metaphysical status of DNA as a developmental cause requires re-evaluation.
  • A mechanistic, systems-based approach offers a more accurate depiction of DNA's role.
  • This perspective offers a distinct alternative to DNA-centric biology and developmental constructionism.
  • Evolutionary considerations present challenges to developmental constructionism.