This examination of stem cell biology from a philosophy of science perspective clarifies the field's central concept, the stem cell, as well as its aims, methods, models, explanations and evidential challenges. Relations to systems biology and clinical medicine are also discussed.

"Melinda Fagan's book on the philosophy of stem cell biology is a superb discussion of this exciting field of contemporary science, and the first book-length philosophical treatment of the subject. It contains a detailed and insightful examination of stem cell science, its structure, methods, and challenges....To conclude, this book, which fills a major gap in contemporary philosophy of science, will be of interest to all philosophers of biology, to philosophers interested in experimental sciences and scientific practice, as well as to stem cell researchers themselves. As an extended discussion of the philosophy of stem cell biology, it will constitute a central work for years to come. The book serves as an ideal point of departure for conducting further philosophical research on the fascinating field of stem cell science, as well as an exemplar for how to approach philosophically today's experimental sciences; a truly impressive achievement."

-Stavros Ionnidis, Metascience (2015) 24:285 288

Autorentext
MELINDA BONNIE FAGAN is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Rice University in Houston, Texas, USA. She has PhDs in Biological Sciences (Stanford University, 1998) and History and Philosophy of Science (Indiana University, Bloomington, 2007) and has published over twenty articles and book chapters on biology and philosophy of science.

Klappentext

This examination of stem cell biology from a philosophy of science perspective clarifies the field's central concept, the stem cell, as well as its aims, methods, models, explanations and evidential challenges. Relations to systems biology and clinical medicine are also discussed.

Inhalt
List of Figures and Tables Acknowledgements Visceral Phenomena PART I Stem Cell Concepts Don't Know What You've Got 'Til It's Gone: Evidence in Stem Cell Experiments A State of Uncertainty: Stemness and the Roles of Theory PART II Mechanistic Explanation: The Joint Account Genes and Development: The Stem Cell Perspective Pluripotent Model Organisms Social Experiments PART III Integrating Stem Cell and Systems Biology Clinical Values Bibliography Index