Philosophy of Science
According to scientific theory, all statements must be complete, correct, and concise.
The 5 Laws of Scientific Philosophy: a set of principles on how scientific theories should be developed
and evaluated. It was created at the Vienna circle in 1911.
1. Disprove- there must be a way to prove that the theory is wrong.
2. The simplest model (Occamos razor)
3. Explains all data- the theory must match observed reality
4. Has few or no arbitrary elements- theory should not rely on arbitrary details to prove
5. Leads to testable predictions- can predict future phenomena or proved by testing
Gold Standard of Scientific Theory: proof leads to disproof
Rene Descartes said “I doubt therefore I think therefore I am”
➢ Descartes started doubting everything except for the fact that he was thinking. This was the start
of doubting illusions of safety, especially pertaining to ideas regarding the immortality of the
human soul.
➢ Illusion of Safety: the false comfort that people find in unexamined beliefs. Ex. Humans are not
animals, the human soul is immortal, the police will always catch the murderer.
➢ Science disproves people's illusions of safety
Ranicide Experiment: When rats are placed in a room with a frog (their prey) only the male rats kill the
frog whereas the female rats do not.
Occam's Razor Table: a straightforward way to find the simplest solution (scientific rationalism).
, The Human Genome and Central Dogma
➢ Humans cannot naturally make clones of one another. All gene sequences vary from person to
person.
Choo Choo Train Model of a Gene:
➢ Describes each gene as a train with each “train car” as different segments of DNA.
➢ Enhancer: a palindrome sequence, meaning that it can read backwards and forwards The
enhancer signals when to start transcription of a gene.
➢ Upstream Activation Sequence (UAS): located upstream of the promoter region, the UAS
controls the expression of a gene and acts as the on and off switch for genes. They bind to
activator proteins.
➢ Promoter Region: specific sequences of nucleotides upstream a gene. Transcription of a gene
starts when DNA polymerase binds to a promoter region on DNA.
➢ Exons: each exon codes for a specific shape/fold of a protein. It takes billions of years for a
protein to become “shape perfect.” This is where RNA polymerase makes RNA copies.
➢ Introns: genes that cut and paste themselves in the exons process of shaping a protein. They are
jumping genes that impact the expression and evolution of a gene.
Jumping Genes: Transposons, introns, retrotransposons. Genes that have molecular pieces that jump.
These genes permit rapid molecular function/evolution.
➢ Genes “jump” when chromosomes are mixed (crossed over) during meiosis and viruses and new
combinations of DNA are formed.
➢ DNA is a dead molecule, yet it still evolves (this is an example of chemical evolution). Ex. The
rearranging of certain cells in the human body can lead to cancer.
➢ The mixing of chromosomes during meiosis leads to jumping genes creating viruses and more
combinations of DNA. DNA can also change due to rearrangements, insertions, deletions and
other alterations.
➢ These jumping genes are a result of viruses and male up 50% of our DNA. The variety of jumping
genes in human DNA allows for rapid molecular evolution.
➢ Many biotechnologies are exploiting jumping gene sequences to make drugs in order to cure
deadly viruses such as cancer.
Chromosome 15: where the genes responsible for physical attributes such as hair colour, skin colour, and
eye colour are located.
➢ Transposons and jumping genes in chromosome 15 tend to move together as a unit. This means
that relatives have similar physical traits and the genes do not move with other chromosomes.
➢ Genes for complex traits “multi traited” randomly independently assort genes that code for
physical traits like a team in order to permit similar characteristics between family members.
➢ Chromosome 15 is a “transpoon dessert”
➢ Neutral Markers: genetically inherited traits that do not affect an organism's fitness or ability to
survive.
According to scientific theory, all statements must be complete, correct, and concise.
The 5 Laws of Scientific Philosophy: a set of principles on how scientific theories should be developed
and evaluated. It was created at the Vienna circle in 1911.
1. Disprove- there must be a way to prove that the theory is wrong.
2. The simplest model (Occamos razor)
3. Explains all data- the theory must match observed reality
4. Has few or no arbitrary elements- theory should not rely on arbitrary details to prove
5. Leads to testable predictions- can predict future phenomena or proved by testing
Gold Standard of Scientific Theory: proof leads to disproof
Rene Descartes said “I doubt therefore I think therefore I am”
➢ Descartes started doubting everything except for the fact that he was thinking. This was the start
of doubting illusions of safety, especially pertaining to ideas regarding the immortality of the
human soul.
➢ Illusion of Safety: the false comfort that people find in unexamined beliefs. Ex. Humans are not
animals, the human soul is immortal, the police will always catch the murderer.
➢ Science disproves people's illusions of safety
Ranicide Experiment: When rats are placed in a room with a frog (their prey) only the male rats kill the
frog whereas the female rats do not.
Occam's Razor Table: a straightforward way to find the simplest solution (scientific rationalism).
, The Human Genome and Central Dogma
➢ Humans cannot naturally make clones of one another. All gene sequences vary from person to
person.
Choo Choo Train Model of a Gene:
➢ Describes each gene as a train with each “train car” as different segments of DNA.
➢ Enhancer: a palindrome sequence, meaning that it can read backwards and forwards The
enhancer signals when to start transcription of a gene.
➢ Upstream Activation Sequence (UAS): located upstream of the promoter region, the UAS
controls the expression of a gene and acts as the on and off switch for genes. They bind to
activator proteins.
➢ Promoter Region: specific sequences of nucleotides upstream a gene. Transcription of a gene
starts when DNA polymerase binds to a promoter region on DNA.
➢ Exons: each exon codes for a specific shape/fold of a protein. It takes billions of years for a
protein to become “shape perfect.” This is where RNA polymerase makes RNA copies.
➢ Introns: genes that cut and paste themselves in the exons process of shaping a protein. They are
jumping genes that impact the expression and evolution of a gene.
Jumping Genes: Transposons, introns, retrotransposons. Genes that have molecular pieces that jump.
These genes permit rapid molecular function/evolution.
➢ Genes “jump” when chromosomes are mixed (crossed over) during meiosis and viruses and new
combinations of DNA are formed.
➢ DNA is a dead molecule, yet it still evolves (this is an example of chemical evolution). Ex. The
rearranging of certain cells in the human body can lead to cancer.
➢ The mixing of chromosomes during meiosis leads to jumping genes creating viruses and more
combinations of DNA. DNA can also change due to rearrangements, insertions, deletions and
other alterations.
➢ These jumping genes are a result of viruses and male up 50% of our DNA. The variety of jumping
genes in human DNA allows for rapid molecular evolution.
➢ Many biotechnologies are exploiting jumping gene sequences to make drugs in order to cure
deadly viruses such as cancer.
Chromosome 15: where the genes responsible for physical attributes such as hair colour, skin colour, and
eye colour are located.
➢ Transposons and jumping genes in chromosome 15 tend to move together as a unit. This means
that relatives have similar physical traits and the genes do not move with other chromosomes.
➢ Genes for complex traits “multi traited” randomly independently assort genes that code for
physical traits like a team in order to permit similar characteristics between family members.
➢ Chromosome 15 is a “transpoon dessert”
➢ Neutral Markers: genetically inherited traits that do not affect an organism's fitness or ability to
survive.
