Abstract
This paper investigates one of the great achievements of twentieth-century cell biology: determining the structure of the cell membrane. This case differs in important ways from the better-known case of the identification of the DNA double helix as the carrier of genetic information, especially regarding the evaluation of potential evidence in light of prior theoretical commitments. Whereas it has been argued that adherence to a structural hypothesis enabled Watson and Crick to ignore a surplus of (potentially confusing) empirical findings, similar adherence to an elegant and universal structural hypothesis, we argue, unduly shielded the so-called ‘unit-membrane’ model from legitimate challenges on the basis of known phenomena.
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Notes
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
See (Stegenga 2013, 982).
- 4.
On this point, see also (Bechtel 2000).
- 5.
See e.g. (Bechtel 2006, 77–80).
- 6.
See (Danielli 1938).
- 7.
- 8.
See (Stein 1986).
- 9.
For a review by one of the main contributors to electron microscopy on different membrane types, see (Robertson 1963).
- 10.
This is not to deny that there are complications, such as the existence of cell walls in plants, i.e. of carbohydrate-protein complexes formed through secretion between neighbouring plant cells. For a (somewhat dated) historical sketch, see (Smith 1962).
- 11.
See, e.g. (Yost 1972).
- 12.
See (Mudd and Mudd 1926).
- 13.
All direct quotes from (Branton 1979: 9).
- 14.
See (Frye and Edidin 1970).
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Gelfert, A., Mok, J. (2017). Saving Models from Phenomena: A Cautionary Tale from Membrane and Cell Biology. In: Stadler, F. (eds) Integrated History and Philosophy of Science. Vienna Circle Institute Yearbook, vol 20. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-53258-5_2
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