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Model species in evo‐devo: a philosophical perspective
Author(s) -
Bolker Jessica A.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
evolution and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.651
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1525-142X
pISSN - 1520-541X
DOI - 10.1111/ede.12056
Subject(s) - biology , perspective (graphical) , context (archaeology) , evolutionary developmental biology , representation (politics) , analogy , cognitive science , epistemology , core (optical fiber) , evolutionary biology , computer science , artificial intelligence , psychology , philosophy , paleontology , telecommunications , politics , political science , law
SUMMARY A model is a representation of or an analogy for something else; in a biological context, the term often refers to organisms or species that serve as a widely used platform for experimental research. In developmental biology, an extraordinarily detailed understanding of fundamental genes and mechanisms has been built around a few core models including Drosophila , mouse, Caenorhabditis elegans , Arabidopsis , and zebrafish. The use of model species entails a series of epistemological issues and commitments regarding similarity, generalization, and the balance between representation and accessibility. In addition, the power of a given model is highly context‐dependent, and the core models of developmental biology may not suffice for evo‐devo questions. An epistemological perspective can clarify the complementary roles of standard and emerging models in evo‐devo, as well as inform decisions about when new models are needed, and criteria for choosing them.