The concept of gene in the twenty-first century: What are the open avenues?

Autores/as

  • Charbel N. El-Hani History, Philosophy and Biology Teaching Lab (LEHFBio), Institute of Biology, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador Brasil
  • Diogo Meyer Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo Brasil

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24310/Contrastescontrastes.v0i0.1158

Resumen

ABSTRACT
The view of the gene as a structural and functional unit has been increasingly challenged by findings mostly resulting from eukaryote research. We can classify these challenges in three kinds: (i) one-to-many correspondences between DNA segments and RNAs/polypeptides (as, for instance, in alternative splicing); (ii) many-to-one correspondences between DNA segments and RNAs/polypeptides (as in genomic rearrangements, say, those involved in the generation of diversity in lymphocyte antigen receptors); (iii) lack of correspondence between DNA segments and RNAs/polypeptides (as, for example, in mRNA editing). However, even if a single definition of a gene may not be a realistic (or even helpful) goal, being able to have different definitions connected to each other –operationally and theoretically– is of central importance.

KEYWORDS
GENE CONCEPT, DEFINITION, DNA

RESUMEN
La idea según la cual el gen es una unidad estructural y funcional se ha visto cada vez más cuestionada a causa de descubrimientos realizados en investigaciones con eucariotas. Podemos clasificar los desafíos planteados a dicha idea en tres tipos: (i) correspondencias uno-a-muchos entre segmentos de ADN y ARN/polipéptidos (como, por ejemplo, en el empalme alternativo); (ii) correspondencias muchos-a-uno entre segmentos de ADN y ARN/polipéptidos (como en las reorganizaciones genómicas, tales como las implicadas en la generación de diversidad en los receptores de antígenos de los linfocitos); (iii) falta de correspondencia entre segmentos del ADN y ARN/polipéptidos (como, por ejemplo, en la edición del ARNm). Sin embargo, incluso si, por estas razones, no sería realista (o incluso útil) buscar una definición única de gen, es de capital importancia que seamos capaces de formular diferentes definiciones conectadas entre sí teórica y operacionalmente.

PALABRAS CLAVE
CONCEPTO DE GEN, DEFINICIÓN, ADN

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Biografía del autor/a

Charbel N. El-Hani, History, Philosophy and Biology Teaching Lab (LEHFBio), Institute of Biology, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador

Charbel El-Hani is Profesor Asociado at the Institute of Biology, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador (Brazil).

Research interests:
Philosophy of biology, biology teaching, history of biology, evolutionary biology and animal behavior

Recent publications:
SANTOS, V. C.; JOAQUIM, L. M. & EL-HANI, C. N. (2012). «Hybrid deterministicviews about genes in biology textbooks: A key problem in genetics teaching». Science & Education 21: 543-578. DOI: 10.1007/s11191-011-9348-1

ARTEAGA , J. M. S. & EL-HANI, C. N. (2012). «Othering Processes and STS Curricula: From 19th Century Scientific Discourse on Interracial Competition and Racial Extinction to Othering in Biomedical Technosciences». Science & Education 21: 607-629. DOI: 10.1007/s11191-011-9384-x

Email: charbel@ufba.br

Diogo Meyer, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo

Diogo Meyer is professor at the Institute of Biosciences of the University of São Paulo (Brazil).

Research interests:
Evolutionary Biology and Population Genetics

Recent publications:
MEYER, D. and HARRIS, E. E, 2013. «Nonadaptive Genetic Change in Human and Primate Evolution», in Encyclopedia of Life Sciences, John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester. http://www.els.net.

SEPÚLVEDA, C., MEYER, D., EL-HANI, CN. 2011. «Adaptacionismo». In: Paulo C. Abrantes. (Org.). Filosofia da Biologia. 1ed.Porto Alegre-RS: ARTMED. p. 162-192.

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Publicado

2013-02-22

Cómo citar

El-Hani, C. N., & Meyer, D. (2013). The concept of gene in the twenty-first century: What are the open avenues?. Contrastes. Revista Internacional De Filosofía. https://doi.org/10.24310/Contrastescontrastes.v0i0.1158