Griffiths, Paul Edmund (2000) Genetic Information: A Metaphor in Search of a Theory. [Preprint]

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Abstract

John Maynard Smith has defended against philosophical criticism the view that developmental biology is the study of the expression of information encoded in the genes by natural selection. However, like other naturalistic concepts of information, this 'teleosemantic' information applies to many non-genetic factors in development. Maynard Smith also fails to show that developmental biology is concerned with teleosemantic information. Some other ways to support Maynard Smith's conclusion are considered. It is argued that on any definition of information the view that development is the expression of genetic information is misleading. Some reasons for the popularity of that view are suggested.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Griffiths, Paul Edmund
Keywords:	Genetic information teleosemantics development epigenetic inheritance John Maynard Smith
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Biology > Developmental Biology Specific Sciences > Biology > Molecular Biology/Genetics
Date Deposited:	26 Jan 2001
Last Modified:	07 Oct 2010 15:09
Item ID:	89
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Biology > Developmental Biology Specific Sciences > Biology > Molecular Biology/Genetics
Date:	October 2000
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/89

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