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The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science Advance Access published online on January 8, 2009
The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science, doi:10.1093/bjps/axn041
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© The Author (2009). Published by Oxford University Press. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

DNA, Inference, and Information

Ulrich E. Stegmann

Department of Philosophy, King's College London Strand, London WC2R 2LS, urich.stegmann{at}kcl.ac.uk


  Abstract

This paper assesses Sarkar's ([2003]) deflationary account of genetic information. On Sarkar's account, genes carry information about proteins because protein synthesis exemplifies what Sarkar calls a ‘formal information system’. Furthermore, genes are informationally privileged over non-genetic factors of development because only genes enter into arbitrary relations to their products (in virtue of the alleged arbitrariness of the genetic code). I argue that the deflationary theory does not capture four essential features of the ordinary concept of genetic information: intentionality, exclusiveness, asymmetry, and causal relevance. It is therefore further removed from what is customarily meant by genetic information than Sarkar admits. Moreover, I argue that it is questionable whether the account succeeds in demonstrating that information is theoretically useful in molecular genetics.

  1. Introduction
  2. Sarkar's Information System
  3. The Pre-theoretic Features of Genetic Information
    3.1 Intentionality
    3.2 Exclusiveness
    3.3 Asymmetry
    3.4 Causal relevance

  4. Theoretical Usefulness
  5. Conclusion


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