Tuesday,
29 March 2005
With Genes Like That
Who Needs An Environment?
Genomics' Argument Against Genetic Determinism
Karola Stotz, University
of Pittsburgh, HPS)
12:05
pm, 817R Cathedral of Learning
Abstract:
New discoveries of detailed mechanisms underlying genome expression
(overlapping genes and gene sharing, antisense transcription, trans-splicing,
RNA editing, to name just a few), genome regulation (via transcription
factors, digital RNA regulatory network, epigenetic system), and
(post) translational processes (e.g. ribosomal slippage) show two
things: how surprisingly complex life processes are at the genomic
level, and how little causal power is being asserted by a single,
autonomous gene, if defined as a stretch of DNA. Genetic information
is developmentally constituted. The main argument against genetic
determinism has always been that the actual activity of the gene
and hence its contribution to the phenotype depends on environmental
elements outside the transcription unit. The genomic processes referred
to in this talk prove the ultimate truth of that saying, and show
that often you won't need to look outside the traditional ‘gene’
to find the ‘environment’.’s logical syntax program
and the later viewpoint of Quine’s own “Truth by Convention.”
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