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From Silico to Vitro: Computational Models of Complex Biological Systems Reveal Real-World Emergent Phenomena

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Computing and Philosophy

Part of the book series: Synthese Library ((SYLI,volume 375))

Abstract

Computer simulations constitute a significant scientific tool for promoting scientific understanding of natural phenomena and dynamic processes. Substantial leaps in computational force and software engineering methodologies now allow the design and development of large-scale biological models, which – when combined with advanced graphics tools – may produce realistic biological scenarios, that reveal new scientific explanations and knowledge about real life phenomena. A state-of-the-art simulation system termed Reactive Animation (RA) will serve as a study case to examine the contemporary philosophical debate on the scientific value of simulations, as we demonstrate its ability to form a scientific explanation of natural phenomena and to generate new emergent behaviors, making possible a prediction or hypothesis about the equivalent real-life phenomena.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The term Organogenesis refers to the development of a functioning, anatomically specialized organ from a relatively small number of relatively undifferentiated precursor cells, and is critically influenced by factors involving multiple scales, dynamics, and 3D anatomic relationships (Setty et al. 2008).

  2. 2.

    Animation: http://www.wisdom.weizmann.ac.il/~yaki/wisDay/index.html. Demonstrating movie: http://www.pnas.org/content/suppl/2008/12/17/0808725105.DCSupplemental/SM1.mov

  3. 3.

    Extracellular Matrix (ECM) is a collection of extracellular molecules secreted by cells that provides structural and biochemical support to the surrounding cells.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Interdisciplinary Studies Unit, Science, Technology and Society (STS) Studies, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel

    Orly Stettiner

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  1. Orly Stettiner
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Correspondence to Orly Stettiner .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Anatolia College/ACT, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Vincent C. Müller

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Stettiner, O. (2016). From Silico to Vitro: Computational Models of Complex Biological Systems Reveal Real-World Emergent Phenomena. In: Müller, V.C. (eds) Computing and Philosophy. Synthese Library, vol 375. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-23291-1_9

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