Neither wholly classical, nor completely molecular: an analysis of the gene concept in behaviour genetics.

Abstract

The way in which the biological sciences conceptualize genes have been analysed by a diversity of authors working in philosophy of biology. Despite recognizing the presence of a plurality of concepts, a dualistic conceptualization prevails where a classical gene (Gene-P) and a molecular gene (Gene-D) have been identified. Besides, it has been declared that such concepts are independent and that it is impossible to find “hybrid” notions. In this article we analyse which gene concepts behaviour geneticists operate with and we show that the standard view does not fit well to what is happening in the area. In particular, we postulate that in behaviour genetics there are two different gene concepts, one of which has a “hybrid” nature. In that sense, our proposal shares the pluralistic consensus but rejects the dualistic character that has fundamentally adopted.