Conceptual change and scientific progress in genetics

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Tezin Türü: Doktora

Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, Fen Edebiyat Fakültesi, Felsefe Bölümü, Türkiye

Tezin Onay Tarihi: 2016

Öğrenci: GÖKHAN AKBAY

Danışman: SAMET BAĞÇE

Özet:

In this thesis, the historical origins and the contemporary status of the gene centric perspective is evaluated. Gene centrism is a viewpoint which is characterized by the emphasis on genes in the explanation of phenotypes. Gene centric perspective has been defended on the grounds that only genes bear information that specifies organisms. The information concept, as it is used in biology, is problematic. Gene centrism cannot be grounded on a problematic concept of information. The real power of gene centrism depends on the success of genetic analysis as a method for investigating biological phenomena, rather than a fundamental theory based on the concept of information. Complex phenoptypes and their genetic bases, for which genetic analysis reaches its limit, provide clues for how the limits of gene centrism would be transgressed.