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Some Broader Evolutionary Issues which Emerge from Contemporary Molecular Biological Data

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2022

W. For Doolittle
W. For Doolittle*
Affiliation:
Dalhousie University
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Extract

Molecular biologists are not accustomed to the attention of philosophers. Ours is a “normal” sort of science, operating very much within the neo-Darwinian paradigm, to flesh out a central dogma (DNA makes RNA makes protein) which is but an articulation, albeit a very important one, of that paradigm (Kuhn 1970). Our success in this enterprise has been remarkable, and we have not until recently had to address our prejudices.” Here I will present my own views on the nature of these prejudices and the troubles they have led us into.

Transposabie elements are a special kind of DNA. Evidence leading directly to an appreciation of their prevalence and an understanding of their behavior began to appear in the early 1960s, from studies of spontaneous mutations in bacteria.

Type
Part III. What is Darwinism today?
Information
PSA: Proceedings of the Biennial Meeting of the Philosophy of Science Association , Volume 1984 , Issue 2: Volume Two: Symposia and Invited Papers 1984 , 1984 , pp. 129 - 144
Copyright
Copyright © 1985 by the Philosophy of Science Association

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