A medicine doctor working in philosophy

By Ana Soto

Abstract

How does theory impact scientific research? In order to address this question, Ana Soto explains different ways in which her knowledge of philosophy nourishes her experimental work in biology. She especially insists on the need of theory to choose observables. After presenting the ORGANISM Group and its research, Soto discusses her theory of organisms and its three main principles: default state, variation and organization. To provide examples to her audience, she focusses on her experiments on organogenesis and on carcinogenesis. She ends her talk by sharing the conclusions of these experiments.

Summary

00:00:10 – Introduction
00:02:32 – A. Outline of Soto’s talk
00:03:57 – 1. Soto’s experimental work
00:04:47 – 1.1. Experiment with estrogen target cells
00:09:40 – 1.2. Philosophical thoughts on the experiment
00:15:01 – 1.3. The ORGANISM Group and its research
00:16:40 – 2. The role of theory in research
00:16:41 – 2.1. The need of theory to choose observables
00:17:58 – 2.2. Theoretical transition from physics to biology
00:20:35 – 2.3. Default state in mechanics
00:21:47 – 3. Soto’s theory of organisms
00:22:00 – 3.1. Principles for Soto’s theory of organisms
00:22:10 – 3.1.1. Default state
00:26:40 – 3.1.2. Variation
00:31:50 – 3.1.3. Organization
00:35:21 – 4. Organogenesis
00:37:06 – 4.1. Experiment on morphogenesis
00:42:05 – 4.2. Theoretical conclusions of the experiment
00:43:20 – 5. Carcinogenesis
00:43:25 – 5.1. Definition of neoplasm
00:49:34 – 5.2. Kidney organogenesis
00:53:35 – 5.3. The role of mutations in carcinogenesis
00:55:50 – 5.4. Cancer as altered tissue organization
01:02:50 – 5.5. Conclusions of the experiment
01:03:11 – Conclusion