Theoretical biology: Difference between revisions
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imported>Daniel Mietchen (structure) |
imported>Anthony.Sebastian (redirect reader to Addendum subpage, and rewrite of intro.) |
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''For a | :::::::''For a compendium of perspectives on the province of theoretical biology, click this article's accompanying tab, 'Addendum', or click [[Theoretical biology/Addendum]], which serves as a continuation of the Main Article.'' | ||
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'''Theoretical biology''' applies [[reason]] toward the goal of explaining the [[ | '''Theoretical biology''' applies the tools of [[reason]] toward the goal of explaining the [[Biology|biological]] world, and its manifold aspects, through the development of ideas and [[Theory|theories]]. Its products: models and theories. It thereby distinguishes itself from [[Observation|observational]] and [[Experiment|experimental]] biology, though without the latter disciplines of biology, theoretical biologists would have neither inspiration nor information with which to produce models or theories, or to evaluate them. [[Charles Darwin|Charles Darwin's]] and [[Alfred Russel Wallace|Alfred Russel Wallace's]] theory of [[Evolution|evolution]] by means of [[Natural selection|natural selection]], or survival of the fittest, aptly illustrates the co-dependence of observation and reason in producing biological theory. | ||
==Scope of theoretical biology== | ==Scope of theoretical biology== | ||
Revision as of 18:20, 7 December 2008
- For a compendium of perspectives on the province of theoretical biology, click this article's accompanying tab, 'Addendum', or click Theoretical biology/Addendum, which serves as a continuation of the Main Article.
Theoretical biology applies the tools of reason toward the goal of explaining the biological world, and its manifold aspects, through the development of ideas and theories. Its products: models and theories. It thereby distinguishes itself from observational and experimental biology, though without the latter disciplines of biology, theoretical biologists would have neither inspiration nor information with which to produce models or theories, or to evaluate them. Charles Darwin's and Alfred Russel Wallace's theory of evolution by means of natural selection, or survival of the fittest, aptly illustrates the co-dependence of observation and reason in producing biological theory.