Fagan, Melinda B. (2012) The stem cell uncertainty principle. In: UNSPECIFIED.

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Abstract

Stem cells are defined by capacities for both self-renewal and differentiation. Many different entities satisfy this working definition. Explicating the stem cell concept reveals it to be relational and relative, requiring contextualization by a cell lineage, organismal source, cell environments, and traits of interest. Not only are stem cell capacities relative to an experimental context; the stem cell concept imposes evidential constraints on the interpretation of experimental results. In consequence, claims about stem cell capacities are inherently uncertain. I discuss the implications of this result for progress in stem cell research and its public understanding.

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Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (UNSPECIFIED)
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Fagan, Melinda B. mbf2@rice.edu
Keywords:	Experiment, Models, Stem cells, Technology, Uncertainty
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Biology > Developmental Biology Specific Sciences > Biology > Molecular Biology/Genetics General Issues > Experimentation
Depositing User:	Melinda Fagan
Date Deposited:	02 Jul 2012 16:23
Last Modified:	02 Jul 2012 16:23
Item ID:	9198
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Biology > Developmental Biology Specific Sciences > Biology > Molecular Biology/Genetics General Issues > Experimentation
Date:	1 July 2012
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/9198

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