Understanding Metaphors in the Life Sciences
eBook - PDF

Understanding Metaphors in the Life Sciences

  1. English
  2. PDF
  3. Available on iOS & Android
eBook - PDF

Understanding Metaphors in the Life Sciences

About this book

Covering a range of metaphors from a diverse field of sciences, from cell and molecular biology to evolution, ecology, and biomedicine, Understanding Metaphors in the Life Sciences explores the positive and negative implications of the widespread use of metaphors in the biological and life sciences. From genetic codes, programs, and blueprints, to cell factories, survival of the fittest, the tree of life, selfish genes, and ecological niches, to genome editing with CRISPR's molecular scissors, metaphors are ubiquitous and vital components of the modern life sciences. But how exactly do metaphors help scientists to understand the objects they study? How can they mislead both scientists and laypeople alike? And what should we all understand about the implications of science's reliance on metaphorical speech and thought for objective knowledge and adequate public policy informed by science? This book will literally help you to better understand the metaphorical dimensions of science.

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Yes, you can access Understanding Metaphors in the Life Sciences by Andrew S. Reynolds in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in Biological Sciences & Genetics & Genomics. We have over one million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Half-title page
  3. Series page
  4. Title page
  5. Copyright page
  6. Epigraph
  7. Dedication
  8. Contents
  9. Foreword
  10. Preface
  11. Acknowledgements
  12. 1 Metaphors and Science
  13. 2 Background Metaphors: Agents, Machines, and Information
  14. 3 Genes and Genomes: Agents, Codes, Programs, Blueprints, and Books
  15. 4 Proteins: Machines, Messengers, and Team Players
  16. 5 Cells: Factories, Computers, and Social Organisms
  17. 6 Evolution: Natural Selection, the Tree of Life, and Selfish Genes
  18. 7 Ecology: The Balance of Nature, Niches, Ecosystem Health, and Gaia
  19. 8 Biomedicine: Genetic Engineering, Genome Editing, and Cell Reprogramming
  20. Concluding Remarks: What Is the Significance of Science’s Reliance on Metaphor?
  21. Summary of Common Misunderstandings
  22. References
  23. Index