Jacques Loeb Centre for History and Philosophy of Science

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Genomic Regulation: Experiments, Computation Modeling and Philosophy | 4-5 Dec 2017

The prominent role of the genome in the regulation of basic biological phenomena has been the subject of extensive experimental and theoretical studies since the mid-20th century. Jacob and Monod's operon model for gene regulation in bacteria and the Britten-Davidson theory of genomic regulation in higher organisms are two well-known examples.

While mathematical modeling has a long history in biology, in particular connected to evolutionary theory and population genetics, models related to complex characteristics such as development originated more recently.

This workshop provides an in-depth examination of the association of the concepts of genome and regulation, while at the same time giving an historical and philosophical analysis which includes major methodology, in particular experimentation and computational modeling.

Workshop - Full Description

Program

Abstracts

Genomic Regulation Poster

From the Laboratory to the Market and Back? | 8 May 2017

The current trend of the commercialization of science has touched many research institutions around the world. It has gained tremendous traction, causing ongoing changes to the practice of science and its institutions.

This workshop will examine the phenomenon of the commercialization of science from a historical perspective and will explore the effects of its present acceleration on scientific research. Also, using selected cases, we will analyze how commercialization has impacted basic science and the university in general, including the humanities.

Program Lab-Market-Back-Abstracts.pdf Abstracts Full Description of the Workshop

Poster - PDF version

Experimentation in Humans: Science, history, politics, ethics and ideologies | May 31, 2016

Medical human subject research strongly increased in the late 19th century, decades after Edward Jenner’s work on the smallpox vaccination, which took place around 1800.

After the Second World War medical experimentation in humans became the symbol of scientific abuse per se, and various codes and legislation covering this topic – the Nuremberg Code and the Declaration of Helsinki among others – were constructed in the aftermath of this dark time.

During the last 30 years, the public image of human subject experimentation has changed significantly in Western countries. A shift has occurred from defending patients’ rights within studies towards the idea of having a right to take part in a clinical trial. Yet at the same time, in African countries the rising number of biomedical studies performed without consent and the abuses committed by big pharmaceutical companies are a source of rising mistrust.

This workshop will explore the history, philosophy and ethics of biomedical human subject research.

This workshop will be a truly interdisciplinary event at BGU, with the active participation of faculty and students from many departments and fields of research such as medicine, biology, history of medicine, ethics, and philosophy. Scholars from other Israeli universities and institutions will participate as well, along with those from abroad.

Full Workshop Description | Program | Abstracts

Experimentation in Humans Poster - pdf version

From genome to gene - causality, synthesis, and evolution - Eighth International Workshop | November 30 - December 2, 2015

November 30 - December 2, 2015

Edgar de Picciotto Family National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev Building (Bldg. 41), BGU Marcus Family Campus

New sequencing techniques and rapid growing computational biology have led to a strong increase in genomic research. The genome, meanwhile, is recognized to be a complex system with structure and functions that are the result of a complex evolutionary history. The hypothesis that the genome and genes are the major causes of heredity and development - a topic of our previous workshops – is experimentally well-supported; genomic regulatory sequences and their logic processing shown to be crucial for development. Assessments concerning the functional meaning of large parts of eukaryotic genomes differ widely. Former assumptions about the importance of genomic structure such as gene order, gene complexes, and genome size have been largely abandoned. But new structural elements are perceived as meaningful, such as chromatin looping with the help of intergenic DNA. Research on the synthesis of artificial genomes and their comparison to natural genomes, apart from its practical importance, helps in the understanding of structure and function of prokaryotic genomes and their differences from eukaryotic ones.
With participants coming from a variety of specialties such as history of biology, philosophy, molecular biology, developmental genetics, immunology, and evolutionary biology, the workshop aims at generating an intellectual discussion about the history and achievements of modern genomic studies and at contributing to a systems theory of the genome as a primary cause of heredity and development.
This theory will include genes (however defined) as crucial elements as well as the role of chromatin.

Among the topics to be discussed are:

The meaning of causality in biology and genetics

The distinction between the functionally meaningful and functionally unimportant features of the genome

The structure and function of regulatory sequences in the genome

The importance of genomic sequences for the determination of the specificity of epigenetic marks

The genome as a result and cause of evolution

Non-coding sequences such as inserted repetitive sequences or SNPs as tools for tracing patterns of evolutionary relatedness

The genome, chromatin, and the individuality of immune cells

The meaning of synthetic genomes for the understanding of genome function

The difference between eukaryotic and prokaryotic genomes and the problem of the universality of a systems theory of the genome

Ethical problems of modern genomic research

Full Program | Poster | Abstracts

Infectious Diseases and Their Control - Past, Present, and Future | 5 May, 2015

Barkan Conference Room (Building 70)

The Jacques Loeb Centre for the History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences at BGU presents an unusual workshop on the topic of infectious diseases.
This event was organized as a truly interdisciplinary one, with the active participation of BGU faculty and students from many departments and fields of research, including the sciences, medicine, and the humanities.

Among other things, we will discuss the controversies around the concept of infectious diseases starting in the 19th century, present-day medical and social challenges posed worldwide by new infectious diseases, the biology of pathogens, and the role of chemistry in the interaction between infectious agents and animal cells. Finally, the perception of infectious diseases in modern literature such as the Magic Mountain will be presented.

Here is a sample of the topics to be discussed:

Mick Alkan - Medical School for International Health (Emeritus)
"The History of Viral Hepatitis Understanding in the Second Half of the 20th Century"

Zvi Bentwich, Center for Emerging Diseases, Tropical Diseases and AIDS
"The HIV/AIDS Epidemic: A 30 Year Perspective"

Nadav Davidovitch - Department of Health Systems Management
"Resistance to Vaccination: From the Past to the Present Day"

Mark H. Gelber - Department of Foreign Literatures and Linguistics
"Contagion, Art and Death in Thomas Mann's Writings"

Leslie Lobel - Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics
"Viruses Never Sleep"

Michael Meijler - Department of Chemistry
"Chemical Communication Between Bacteria and Eukaryotes: How Do We Coexist?"

Full Program | Abstracts

From gene to genome as an integrated system - Seventh International Workshop | 24-25 November, 2014

Programme | Poster | Abstracts | Description

The Enzyme Kinetics of Michaelis and Menten, 1913-2013: Historical Background, Controversies, and Scientific Perspectives | 8 October, 2013

Participants:

Ute Deichmann, BGU: "Discovery and Progress in Biochemistry. The Example of Leonor Michaelis"
Eyal Gur, BGU: "Enzyme Kinetics Measurements Unravel Complexities of Protein-Protein Interactions in the Pup-Proteasome System"
Mikael Elias, Weizmann Institute of Science: "The Michaelis-Menten Model and the
Far-From-Perfect Enzyme"
Athel Cornish-Bowden, CNRS, Marseille: "100 Years of Michaelis-Menten Kinetics"
Poster

The changing concept of the gene: Recurrent debates on the causal role of genes - Sixth International Workshop | 20-21 May, 2013

Poster | Program | Proceedings

Although genes were long disregarded in both the classical biological field of "developmental mechanics" (experimental embryology) and evolutionary studies, the gene concept proved to be the most powerful idea in 20th century biology. Yet, even as the study of genes became approachable at the molecular level, they were (and remain) frequently misinterpreted. A review of the history of the "gene" in biological research reveals an interesting complexity of concept and conceptual change, scientific reality, and non-scientific myths.

In 21st century biological research, the rise of Systems Biology and new discussions on epigenetic modifications in the popular and technical press may have served to diminish the primacy of genes in biological systems. However, bio-scientists from various fields emphasize the importance of genes in biological control systems and point to the increasing evidence that epigenetic modification always follows specific DNA-protein interaction by transcription factors. Moreover, DNA sequencing is being increasingly used as a tool in historical studies, including in evolutionary studies on human populations and other ancient species.

With participants coming from a variety of specialties, such as molecular biology, developmental genetics, history of science, and philosophy, the Workshop aims at generating an intellectual discussion about the fertility, neglect, under- and overestimation of the concept of genetic causality in complex organisms.

Titles and Abstracts

Garland E. Allen, Washington University, St. Louis: "Mechanistic Materialism and the Classical Gene: Scientific and Social Consequences"
abstract
Rivka Carmi, Ben Gurion University of the Negev: “Lessons on Genes (and Genies) Learned from the Negev Bedouins” abstract
Eric Davidson, California Institute of Technology: “The Causality of Gene Regulation in Animal Biology: Sources of Antagonism to Mechanistic Genomic Bioscience then and now” abstract
Ute Deichmann, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev: “Scientific and Philosophical Motivations for the Reservation against the Causal Role of Genes in Early Research and Reflections on Heredity and Development”
abstract
Raphael Falk, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem: “The Rise and Fall of the Gene“
Gary Felsenfeld, National Institute of Health, Maryland : “The Evolution of Epigenetics“
abstract
Snait Gissis, Cohn Institute, Tel Aviv University: “Biological Conceptualisation of ‘Jewish Difference’ - 1945-2012. The Work of Israeli Population-Geneticists”
abstract
Myles Jackson, New York University: “The CCR5-Delta32 Allele: Reintroducing Race at the Level of DNA“
abstract
Bertrand Jordan, Bertrand Jordan CoReBio PACA, Marseille: “Genes and Non-Mendelian Diseases: Dealing with Complexity”
abstract
Sophie Kohler, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev: “Genes as an Historical Archive“
abstract
Michel Morange, École Normale Supérieure, Paris: “Genome as a Multi-Purpose Structure”
abstract
Nils Roll-Hansen, University of Oslo: “Whatever Happened to Wilhelm Johannsen’s Genotype?”
abstract
Ellen Rothenberg, California Institute of Technology: “Remembrance of Things Past, and Constructive Forgetting: Transcription Factor-Directed Remodeling of Epigenetic Marks in Development“
abstract
Stephen Small, New York University: "How Gene Regulation Mechanisms Establish Body Plans in Developing Embryos"
abstract
Diethard Tautz, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Plön: “De novo Evolution of Genes“
abstract

All Abstracts

The Pratt Conference on Science, Politics, and Ethics: "Current Debates in Genetic Research and its Ethical Implications" | 19 May, 2013

Poster

Synthetic Life: A Concept in Pure and Applied Biology. Historical Origins, Philosophical Questions, Current Developments, and Ethical Issues: Fifth International Workshop | 5-6 March, 2012

A. Minkoff Senate Hall, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

Programme | Poster | Photo Album | Proceedings

Origin of Life - Scientific, Historical, and Philosophical Perspectives - Fourth Annual International Workshop | June 13-14, 2011

W. A. Minkoff Senate Hall, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.

There is hardly any topic in biology, that has changed its content so drastically as that of origin of life. This include claims of panspermia – the continuity of life in the universe – as well as assumptions, first put forward by Aristotle, then repeated by the Church Fathers and by scientists until through the 19th century that some forms of life are spontaneously generated from non-living material. Since the question of the origin of life is inseparable from that of a particular conception of life, it thus affects not only research into astrobiology and synthetic life, but, at least implicitly, most biological research.

The workshop will focus on the origin of life on earth. It addresses the question from a number of different scholarly and scientific perspectives, such as biblical studies, classical studies, history and philosophy of science, palaeontology, microbiology, biochemistry, macromolecular chemistry, synthetic biology, and evolutionary biology. This interdisciplinary discussion will stimulate bring forward new insights in to the question of what is life.

Programme | Poster | Abstracts of lectures

Evolutionary-Developmental Biology: The Evolution of the fields and Prospects for its future developments - Third Annual International Workshop | June 8-9, 2010

Understanding Scientific Progress
Batsheva Interdisciplinary Workshop

Organized by the Jacques Loeb Centre for the History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences,
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

Programme | Poster

SUMMARY

Evolutionary-Developmental (Evo-Devo) Biology, embracing evolutionary morphology, molecular evolution, palaeontology, and developmental genetics, concerns itself with the developmental basis for evolutionary change, and the evolution of developmental mechanisms. Notable discoveries made since the late 1980s have enabled the utilization of advances in genetics and embryology to the study of evolutionary transformations. While the broad field of investigation has led to exciting developments it has also encouraged serious reflections on current and future directions. Practitioners, as well as historians and philosophers of biology, are engaged in examining a number of critical issues directed at the ability to bridge long standing fissures, for example between molecular and morphological, or embryological and genetic approaches, and providing plausible mechanistic explanations for formerly inexplicable evolutionary phenomena, such as the change of body plans.

Progress thus far, as well as theoretical and methodological concerns, are the focal points of the Jacques Loeb Centre's interdisciplinary workshop. Participants from a variety of different specialties, including molecular biology, developmental genetics, palaeobiology, embryology, history of science, and philosophy, will provide a stimulating interdisciplinary forum involving a broad range of overlapping interests.

In addition to discussing problems and potentials, we will use examples from evolutionary developmental biology and its roots in embryology, cell biology, and molecular genetics to address the possibilities and conditions enabling progress in the life sciences in general. Though the development of biology over the past century is perceived as a story of success, in terms of both knowledge in fundamental areas and practical application in medical fields, any practitioner would concede that modern biology includes many accounts of dead ends, that is, research that turned out not to be fruitful, or even wrong. From a philosophical perspective, the concept of progress is highly controversial and clashes with the view that science merely changes its concepts and practices. This presents real and meaningful challenges to philosophers of science, the arbiters of the cognitive structure of disciplines. Accordingly, at this Evo-Devo workshop the participants will examine the ways in which we determine the nature of progress and discuss the roles played by particular conceptual and theoretical frameworks.

Relevant questions, among others, are:

- How can we determine progress: as opening up new fields without replacing existing ones; as "invasion of one field into another, versus progress by synthesis" (E. Davidson); as replacement of inefficient or incorrect concepts, arguments, theories, empirical strategies; etc.?

- What roles are played by concepts and theories?

- How fundamental is logical reasoning?

- Under which conditions can synthetic approaches be fruitful (as argued by systems biologists); alternatively when is the analytical approach more successful?

- Is it justified to call Evo-Devo a new synthesis in the history of evolutionary biology?

- Is it possible at an early stage to identify research that might lead to a dead end?

- To what extent do recent developments in evolutionary developmental biology contribute towards providing mechanistic explanations for formerly inexplicable evolutionary phenomena, such as the generation of new species and higher taxonomic groups?

- Do philosophical conceptions such as “fundamental ideas” (19th-century Cambridge philosopher Whewell), mental obstacles to knowledge (French philosopher Gaston Bachelard), “themes” (Gerald Holton), and similar presuppositions influence the preference of certain concepts or approaches?

Confirmed Participants:

Naama Barkai (Weizmann Institute)
Ulrich Charpa (Ruhr University Bochum)
Ariel Chipman (Hebrew University)
Eric Davidson (California Institute of Technology)
Ute Deichmann (Ben-Gurion University of the Negev)
Douglas Erwin (Smithsonian Museum, Washington)
Michael Lässig (University of Cologne)
Manfred Laubichler (Arizona State University)
Michael Levine (University of California, Berkeley)
Michel Morange (Ecole normale supérieure, Paris)
Ram Reshef (University of Haifa)
Siegfried Roth (University of Cologne)
Benny Shilo (Weizmann Institute)

Darwinism and Functional Biology, Other Sciences, and the Humanities - Second International Workshop, Beer-Sheva and Jerusalem, Israel | March 30th – April 1st, 2009

The Jacques Loeb Centre for the History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva in collaboration with The Einstein Center, and The Sidney M. Edelstein Center for the History and Philosophy of Science, Technology and Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Programme | Poster

The year 2009 sees not only the bicentenary of Darwin’s birth, and the 150th anniversary of the publication of his seminal work On the Origin of Species, but is also the 150th anniversary of Jacques Loeb's birth.

The Jacques Loeb Centre for the History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, in cooperation with the Einstein Center and Edelstein Center at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, is marking these three anniversaries with this International Workshop.

Jacques Loeb was a seminal figure in experimental biology who, despite appreciating Darwin’s theory of evolution in principle, remained sceptical from the point of view of an experimental scientist. The workshop explores the tensions as well as fruitful relationships between Darwin’s concept of evolution through natural selection and functional biology, various experimental sciences, and the humanities, from the 19th century until the present time.

The contributions deal with:

- Darwinian principles and research in genetics, developmental biology, immunology, and biochemistry in history and the present

- the relationship of Darwinism to mathematics and non-biological sciences, particularly geology, chemistry, and physics

- the relationship of Darwinism to research in the humanities and social sciences

The proceedings of the Darwinism workshop will be published in a special issue of Journal for General Philosophy of Science

Philosophies in Biology - First Annual International Workshop | March 4-5 2008

Programme | Poster

The international workshop on “Philosophies in Biology" took place on 4 and 5 March 2008. The event brought together scholars from France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Israel to examine the role that different philosophical concepts have played in the development of the modern life sciences. Even though at the beginning of the 21st century philosophical commitments are less explicit than in Loeb's time, methodological, ontological, and ethical principles remain an indispensable part of scientific research. Through a range of studies taken from history of science and recent science, the workshop explored the extent to which philosophical concepts influence scientists' motives, methods, as well as the contents of their research.

A selection of papers from the workshop appears in History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences, vol.30, no.1. 2008.