Gry Oftedal: Life Science Metaphors: Their roles in models, explanation and structuring of research

Metaphors are ubiquitous in the life sciences, but what roles do they play in models and explanations? Genes are understood as codes and information, and connections between genes are modeled as circuits and networks. Synthetic biologists program cells by intervening in their DNA. Biomedicine researchers focus on targeting of drugs and treatments, and bionano-scientists construct nanoscale cars, elevators and other molecular machines. A significant line of thought in the philosophy of science since the 1960s suggests that such metaphors and analogies are key ingredients in scientific modeling. I will discuss how life science metaphors may guide researchers towards certain causal hypotheses and models and show how metaphors both facilitate and constrain modeling processes. I will suggest to understand metaphors as vehicles of causal selection and discuss pros and cons of metaphors having this role in the life sciences.