Biological reductionism versus redundancy in a degenerate world

Michael J. Joyner; Laszlo G. Boros; Gregory Fink

doi:10.1353/pbm.2018.0061

Biological reductionism versus redundancy in a degenerate world

Michael J. Joyner, Laszlo G. Boros, Gregory Fink

Anesthesiology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

The precision medicine narrative relies on the reductionist assumption that there is a strong linkage between genotype and complex traits (phenotypes). This essay uses examples from humans and other “higher” animals to argue that redundant and degenerate mechanisms operating at the physiological level limit both the general utility of this assumption and the specific utility of the precision medicine narrative.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	517-526
Number of pages	10
Journal	Perspectives in Biology and Medicine
Volume	61
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1353/pbm.2018.0061
State	Published - Sep 1 2018

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Issues, ethics and legal aspects
Health Policy
History and Philosophy of Science

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10.1353/pbm.2018.0061

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Biological reductionism versus redundancy in a degenerate world

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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