Genetics and Reductionism

Sahotra Sarkar

doi:10.1017/CBO9781139173216

With the advent of the Human Genome Project there have been many claims for the genetic origins of complex human behavior including insanity, criminality, and intelligence. But what does it really mean to call something 'genetic'? This is the fundamental question that Sahotra Sarkar's book addresses. The author analyses the nature of reductionism in classical and molecular genetics. He shows that there are two radically different kinds of reductionist explanation: genetic reduction (as found in classical genetics) and physical reduction (found in molecular genetics). This important book clarifies the meaning of the term 'genetic', shows how molecular studies have affected genetics, and provides the philosophical background necessary to understand the debates over the Human Genome Project. It will be of particular interest to professionals and students in the philosophy of science, the history of science, and the social studies of science, medicine, and technology.

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Genetics and Reductionism

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-vi

Contents
pp vii-viii

Acknowledgments
pp ix-x

1 - Introduction
pp 1-15

2 - Types of reduction: Formal issues
pp 16-38

3 - Types of reduction: Substantive issues
pp 39-70

4 - The obsession with heritability
pp 71-100

5 - Reduction and classical genetics
pp 101-135

6 - Reduction and molecular biology
pp 136-174

7 - Concluding polemics
pp 175-190

Notes
pp 191-222

References
pp 223-241

Index
pp 242-246

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