Discovery and Explanation in Biology and Medicine

Discovery and Explanation in Biology and Medicine PDF Author: Kenneth F. Schaffner
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
ISBN: 9780226735917
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 528

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Book Description
Kenneth F. Schaffner compares the practice of biological and medical research and shows how traditional topics in philosophy of science—such as the nature of theories and of explanation—can illuminate the life sciences. While Schaffner pays some attention to the conceptual questions of evolutionary biology, his chief focus is on the examples that immunology, human genetics, neuroscience, and internal medicine provide for examinations of the way scientists develop, examine, test, and apply theories. Although traditional philosophy of science has regarded scientific discovery—the questions of creativity in science—as a subject for psychological rather than philosophical study, Schaffner argues that recent work in cognitive science and artificial intelligence enables researchers to rationally analyze the nature of discovery. As a philosopher of science who holds an M.D., he has examined biomedical work from the inside and uses detailed examples from the entire range of the life sciences to support the semantic approach to scientific theories, addressing whether there are "laws" in the life sciences as there are in the physical sciences. Schaffner's novel use of philosophical tools to deal with scientific research in all of its complexity provides a distinctive angle on basic questions of scientific evaluation and explanation.

Discovery and Explanation in Biology and Medicine

Discovery and Explanation in Biology and Medicine PDF Author: Kenneth F. Schaffner
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
ISBN: 9780226735917
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 528

Get Book Here

Book Description
Kenneth F. Schaffner compares the practice of biological and medical research and shows how traditional topics in philosophy of science—such as the nature of theories and of explanation—can illuminate the life sciences. While Schaffner pays some attention to the conceptual questions of evolutionary biology, his chief focus is on the examples that immunology, human genetics, neuroscience, and internal medicine provide for examinations of the way scientists develop, examine, test, and apply theories. Although traditional philosophy of science has regarded scientific discovery—the questions of creativity in science—as a subject for psychological rather than philosophical study, Schaffner argues that recent work in cognitive science and artificial intelligence enables researchers to rationally analyze the nature of discovery. As a philosopher of science who holds an M.D., he has examined biomedical work from the inside and uses detailed examples from the entire range of the life sciences to support the semantic approach to scientific theories, addressing whether there are "laws" in the life sciences as there are in the physical sciences. Schaffner's novel use of philosophical tools to deal with scientific research in all of its complexity provides a distinctive angle on basic questions of scientific evaluation and explanation.

Discovery and Explanation in Biology and Medicine

Discovery and Explanation in Biology and Medicine PDF Author: Kenneth F. Schaffner
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
ISBN: 9780226735924
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 654

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Book Description
Kenneth F. Schaffner compares the practice of biological and medical research and shows how traditional topics in philosophy of science—such as the nature of theories and of explanation—can illuminate the life sciences. While Schaffner pays some attention to the conceptual questions of evolutionary biology, his chief focus is on the examples that immunology, human genetics, neuroscience, and internal medicine provide for examinations of the way scientists develop, examine, test, and apply theories. Although traditional philosophy of science has regarded scientific discovery—the questions of creativity in science—as a subject for psychological rather than philosophical study, Schaffner argues that recent work in cognitive science and artificial intelligence enables researchers to rationally analyze the nature of discovery. As a philosopher of science who holds an M.D., he has examined biomedical work from the inside and uses detailed examples from the entire range of the life sciences to support the semantic approach to scientific theories, addressing whether there are "laws" in the life sciences as there are in the physical sciences. Schaffner's novel use of philosophical tools to deal with scientific research in all of its complexity provides a distinctive angle on basic questions of scientific evaluation and explanation.

Tales of Discovery

Tales of Discovery PDF Author: Miguel M. Garcia
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 9783031476198
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Research data sharing has traditionally been addressed to other peer researchers. Nowadays there is general awareness that putting research at the disposal of society is beneficial and necessary. However, the popularization of science is a hard endeavor. It must deal with transmission of transcendental knowledge with the appealing adornment of a good story, but avoiding the risk of falling into banality. This book consists in a series of individual stories delving into the world of biology and medicine. Some topics included in this volume consist in the explanation of basic biological concepts like the origin of modern eukaryotic cells, the importance of mutations as the driving force behind evolution, the molecular ins and outs of the nervous system, or the relevance of microorganisms to humans and science including food and energy industries. Others rather lean to a more biomedical perspective and constitute popular cases that have been, to some extent, trending in global media outlets: the divulgation of some current under-reckoned non-infectious pandemics like obesity and chronic pain, the presence of longer-living populations around the world named blue zones, the American (and African) opioid crisis, or the discovery and development of CRISPR-Cas as a promising genetic editing tool. All chapters are depicted with accompanying illustrations thoroughly elaborated by professionals of Fine Arts to make it easier to understand for the non-experts... but may perhaps also proof that the scientific method and multidisciplinary work are not unique to natural sciences, but also shared by other apparently distant disciplines like arts.

Beyond the Molecular Frontier

Beyond the Molecular Frontier PDF Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309168392
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 238

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Book Description
Chemistry and chemical engineering have changed significantly in the last decade. They have broadened their scopeâ€"into biology, nanotechnology, materials science, computation, and advanced methods of process systems engineering and controlâ€"so much that the programs in most chemistry and chemical engineering departments now barely resemble the classical notion of chemistry. Beyond the Molecular Frontier brings together research, discovery, and invention across the entire spectrum of the chemical sciencesâ€"from fundamental, molecular-level chemistry to large-scale chemical processing technology. This reflects the way the field has evolved, the synergy at universities between research and education in chemistry and chemical engineering, and the way chemists and chemical engineers work together in industry. The astonishing developments in science and engineering during the 20th century have made it possible to dream of new goals that might previously have been considered unthinkable. This book identifies the key opportunities and challenges for the chemical sciences, from basic research to societal needs and from terrorism defense to environmental protection, and it looks at the ways in which chemists and chemical engineers can work together to contribute to an improved future.

Analyzing Network Data in Biology and Medicine

Analyzing Network Data in Biology and Medicine PDF Author: Nataša Pržulj
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1108432239
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 647

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Book Description
Introduces biological concepts and biotechnologies producing the data, graph and network theory, cluster analysis and machine learning, using real-world biological and medical examples.

Magneto-Biology and Medicine

Magneto-Biology and Medicine PDF Author: Anatoly Buchachenko
Publisher: Nova Science Publishers
ISBN: 9781634632560
Category : Electromagnetism
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Life is controlled by chemistry. Chemistry is not the whole life but the life is totally chemistry. Chemistry is a key to biology. Nothing in biology can be understood without chemistry and chemical reactions. There are many factors controlling biochemical reactions, however the most intriguing is the magnetic field. The ability to respond to magnetic fields is ubiquitous and universal among the five kingdoms of organisms. Magneto-biology is a field of knowledge which considers phenomena accompanying the influence of magnetic fields, permanent and alternating, on the biological systems at all levels: molecular, cellular, and whole organism. There is no doubt that magnetic fields do the human health and feeling of well-being; the latter is a key factor stimulating both social and scientific interest in magneto-biology. This book considers numerous biological and biomedical effects of the two magnetic fields: internal fields created by magnetic nuclei, and external magnetic fields, both permanent and oscillating. It critically summarizes magnetic effects on the biological clocks, biological compass for orientation and navigation of migrating animals, the influence of cells phones on the health. It demonstrates magnetic and isotope effects on the food chains and metabolism, ecology and epidemiology. It explains the origin of trans-cranial magnetic stimulation of cognitive processes to prevent neurodegenerative disorders; it enlightens magnetic stimulation of the ATP synthesis and protein phosphorylation, magnetic control of the DNA synthesis and gene expression. It shows how magnetic fields can be used to eliminate ATP deficiency at cardiac diseases and how to use magnetic stable isotope ions as the medical agents against hypoxia and cardiac insufficiency, as a means for controlling cell proliferation and stimulating destruction and apoptosis of the cancer cells. The uniqueness of this book is that it is focused on the chemical biology and medicine, on the discovery and analysis of chemical magneto-dependent mechanisms. This book gives a collection of scattered information, its critical analysis, generalization and explanation of physics and chemistry of magneto-biological effects as a basis for the deliberate usage in medicine (for the trans-cranial magnetic stimulation of cognitive processes and genetics, in particular).

Systems Biology in Drug Discovery and Development

Systems Biology in Drug Discovery and Development PDF Author: Qing Yan
Publisher: Humana Press
ISBN: 9781607618010
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 337

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Book Description
Due to the failing “one-drug-fits-all” model, it has become increasingly necessary to develop personalized medicine that treats whole systems and brings the right drug to the right patient with the right dosages. In Systems Biology in Drug Discovery and Development: Methods and Protocols, leading experts provide a practical, state-of-the-art, and holistic view of the translation of systems biology into better drug discovery and personalized medical practice. While the first part of the book describes cutting-edge technologies and methods in the field, the second part illustrates how the technologies can be applied in science for disease understanding and therapeutic discovery. As a volume in the highly successful Methods in Molecular BiologyTM series, this collection provides the kind of detailed description and implementation advice that is crucial for getting optimal results. Authoritative and up-to-date, Systems Biology in Drug Discovery and Development: Methods and Protocols covers topics from fundamental concepts to advanced technologies in order to best serve biomedical students and professionals at all levels who are interested in vital integrative studies in molecular biology, genetics, bioinformatics, bioengineering, biochemistry, physiology, pathology, microbiology, immunology, pharmacology, toxicology, drug discovery, and clinical medicine.

Managing Discovery in the Life Sciences

Managing Discovery in the Life Sciences PDF Author: Philip A. Rea
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1107130905
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 557

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Book Description
Addresses in roughly equal measure the science and management behind several recent marketable biomedical innovations.

Physics in Biology and Medicine

Physics in Biology and Medicine PDF Author: Paul Davidovits
Publisher: Academic Press
ISBN: 0123694116
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 352

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Book Description
This third edition covers topics in physics as they apply to the life sciences, specifically medicine, physiology, nursing and other applied health fields. It includes many figures, examples and illustrative problems and appendices which provide convenient access to the most important concepts of mechanics, electricity, and optics.

Evolution of Translational Omics

Evolution of Translational Omics PDF Author: Institute of Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309224187
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 354

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Book Description
Technologies collectively called omics enable simultaneous measurement of an enormous number of biomolecules; for example, genomics investigates thousands of DNA sequences, and proteomics examines large numbers of proteins. Scientists are using these technologies to develop innovative tests to detect disease and to predict a patient's likelihood of responding to specific drugs. Following a recent case involving premature use of omics-based tests in cancer clinical trials at Duke University, the NCI requested that the IOM establish a committee to recommend ways to strengthen omics-based test development and evaluation. This report identifies best practices to enhance development, evaluation, and translation of omics-based tests while simultaneously reinforcing steps to ensure that these tests are appropriately assessed for scientific validity before they are used to guide patient treatment in clinical trials.