Erica Dietlein (University of Nevada, Reno)
In vitro systems are commonly used within the fields of molecular biology and biochemistry. However, despite the prevalent use of these systems, discussion regarding the nature of in vitro modeling has thus far captured only a limited scope of what goes on within in vitro models and does not capture the diversity of in vitro modeling techniques employed by biochemists. The dialogue surrounding biochemistry and biochemical technology have thus far been largely restricted to conversation about mechanisms or their role in bioethical debates. Any discussion about the epistemology of in vitro systems has largely remained limited to claims that state in vitro studies are designed to mimic systems that already exist in nature (Garcia, 2015). This characterization fails with regard to a wide variety of in vitro systems, such as the ones used to characterize the CRISPR-Cas9 system. Additionally, biochemistry has its origins in chemistry, and the experimental design that goes into the creation of biochemical models still shares similarities with modern chemical experimental models. The nature of modeling in molecular biology and biochemistry is more diverse than it initially appears, and there is much within these fields that remains to be explored by philosophers.
In this poster, I introduce one means by which biochemists have used in vitro studies to generate knowledge about molecular activity that goes beyond the imitation of natural systems, using characterizations of the CRISPR-Cas9 system as examples (Gasiunas 2012; Jinek, 2012). Next, I make suggestions about where the philosophy of chemistry and the philosophy of biology might be brought together to better address questions about modeling in biochemistry. Model system design in chemistry reveals more about how biochemists produce knowledge within their own field through the use of in vitro systems. The way in which some chemists model their objects of study is highly similar to how biochemists model biochemical objects. Thus, conversations within the philosophy of chemistry (Fisher, 2017; Chamizo, 2013) can enrich and expand our understanding of the modeling behind the development of biochemical theory and the technologies that develop within the field.
