Approximations, idealizations and 'experiments' at the physics-biology interface
Document Type
Journal article
Source Publication
Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Publication Date
6-1-2011
Volume
42
Issue
2
First Page
145
Last Page
154
Keywords
Models, Simulations, Complexity, Systems biology, Condensed matter physics, Molecular biology, Physics-biology interface
Abstract
This paper, which is based on recent empirical research at the University of Leeds, the University of Edinburgh, and the University of Bristol, presents two difficulties which arise when condensed matter physicists interact with molecular biologists: (1) the former use models which appear to be too coarse-grained, approximate and/or idealized to serve a useful scientific purpose to the latter; and (2) the latter have a rather narrower view of what counts as an experiment, particularly when it comes to computer simulations, than the former. It argues that these findings are related; that computer simulations are considered to be undeserving of experimental status, by molecular biologists, precisely because of the idealizations and approximations that they involve. The complexity of biological systems is a key factor. The paper concludes by critically examining whether the new research programme of ‘systems biology’ offers a genuine alternative to the modelling strategies used by physicists. It argues that it does not.
DOI
10.1016/j.shpsc.2010.11.021
Print ISSN
13698486
E-ISSN
18792499
Publisher Statement
Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd
Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.
Full-text Version
Publisher’s Version
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Rowbottom, D. P. (2011). Approximations, idealizations and 'experiments' at the physics-biology interface. Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, 42(2), 145-154. doi: 10.1016/j.shpsc.2010.11.021