The Concept of the Gene in Development and Evolution

Advances in molecular biological research in the latter half of the twentieth century have made the story of the gene vastly complicated: the more we learn about genes, the less sure we are of what a gene really is. Knowledge about the structure and functioning of genes abounds, but the gene has also become curiously intangible. This collection of essays renews the question: what are genes? Philosophers, historians and working scientists re-evaluate the question in this volume, treating the gene as a focal point of interdisciplinary and international research. It will be of interest to professionals and students in the philosophy and history of science, genetics and molecular biology.

• A truly interdisciplinary volume by an international group of philosophers, historians and working scientists that re-evaluates the question: what are genes? • Brings together distinguished authors and essays that offer challenging perspectives on some of the most fundamental concepts of twentieth-century biology • A lucid and coherent overview of the volume’s themes is given in the last chapter

Introduction; Part I. Genes and Traits: 1. The dissolution of protein coding genes in molecular biology Thomas Fogle; 2. The differential concept of the gene: past and present Sara Schwartz; 3. Gene concepts and genetic concepts Fred Gifford; Part II. Extracting The Units Of Heredity: 4. From measurement to organization: a philosophical scheme for the history of the concept of heredity Jean Gayon; 5. From gene to genetic hierarchy: Richard Goldschmidt and the problem of the gene Michael R. Dietrich; 6. Seymour Benzer and the definition of the gene Frederic L. Holmes; Part III. Genetic Programs and Developmental Genes: 7. Decoding the genetic program Evelyn Fox Keller; 8. Genes classical and developmental: the different use of genes in evolutionary synthesis Scott F. Gilbert; 9. The developmental gene concept: history and limits Michel Morange; Part IV. Conceptual Perspectives: 10. Gene concepts: fragments from the perspective of molecular biology Hans-Jörg Rheinberger; 11. Reproduction and the reduction of genetics James R. Griesemer; 12. A unified view of the gene, or how to overcome reductionism Peter J. Beurton; The gene - a concept in tension: A critical overview Raphael Falk.