The Inheritance of Features Export

@article{citeulike:395822, abstract = {Since the discovery of the double helical structure of DNA, the standard account of the inheritance of features has been in terms of DNA-copying and DNA-transmission. This theory is just a version of the old theory according to which the inheritance of features is explained by the transfer at conception of some developmentally privileged material from parents to offspring. This paper does the following things: (1) it explains what the inheritance of features is; (2) it explains how the DNA-centric theory emerged; (3) it clarifies the relation between the DNA-centric theory and the 'unfolding' theory of development; (4) it argues that (given what we now know about developmental processes and genetic activity) the DNA-centric theory should be abandoned in favour of a pluralistic (but not holistic) theory of the inheritance of features. According to this pluralistic theory, the reliable reoccurrence of phenotypes must be explained by appealing not only to processes responsible for the reliable reoccurrence of genetic developmental factors but also to processes responsible for the reliable reoccurrence (or persistence) of nongenetic developmental factors.}, author = {Mameli, Matteo}, citeulike-article-id = {395822}, citeulike-linkout-0 = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10539-004-0560-0}, citeulike-linkout-1 = {http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/klu/biph/2005/00000020/F0020002/00000560}, citeulike-linkout-2 = {http://www.springerlink.com/content/y582681132447444}, day = {11}, doi = {10.1007/s10539-004-0560-0}, issn = {0169-3867}, journal = {Biology and Philosophy}, keywords = {biology, genetics, philosophy, philsci, theory}, month = {March}, number = {2}, pages = {365--399}, posted-at = {2009-11-03 13:20:54}, priority = {2}, publisher = {Kluwer Academic Publishers}, title = {The Inheritance of Features}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10539-004-0560-0}, volume = {20}, year = {2005} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:395822 L3 - citeulike-article-id:395822 N2 - Since the discovery of the double helical structure of DNA, the standard account of the inheritance of features has been in terms of DNA-copying and DNA-transmission. This theory is just a version of the old theory according to which the inheritance of features is explained by the transfer at conception of some developmentally privileged material from parents to offspring. This paper does the following things: (1) it explains what the inheritance of features is; (2) it explains how the DNA-centric theory emerged; (3) it clarifies the relation between the DNA-centric theory and the ‘unfolding’ theory of development; (4) it argues that (given what we now know about developmental processes and genetic activity) the DNA-centric theory should be abandoned in favour of a pluralistic (but not holistic) theory of the inheritance of features. According to this pluralistic theory, the reliable reoccurrence of phenotypes must be explained by appealing not only to processes responsible for the reliable reoccurrence of genetic developmental factors but also to processes responsible for the reliable reoccurrence (or persistence) of nongenetic developmental factors. IS - 2 JF - Biology and Philosophy SN - 0169-3867 EP - 399 TI - The Inheritance of Features PB - Kluwer Academic Publishers VL - 20 SP - 365 KW - biology KW - genetics KW - philosophy KW - philsci KW - theory AU - Mameli, Matteo PY - 2005/03/11/ UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10539-004-0560-0 ER -