M. Fagan 
Philosophy of Stem Cell Biology 
Knowledge in Flesh and Blood

This examination of stem cell biology from a philosophy of science perspective clarifies the field’s central concept, the stem cell, as well as its aims, methods, models, explanations and evidential challenges. Relations to systems biology and clinical medicine are also discussed.

Table of Content

List of Figures and Tables Acknowledgements Visceral Phenomena PART I Stem Cell Concepts Don’t Know What You’ve Got ‘Til It’s Gone: Evidence in Stem Cell Experiments A State of Uncertainty: Stemness and the Roles of Theory PART II Mechanistic Explanation: The Joint Account Genes and Development: The Stem Cell Perspective Pluripotent Model Organisms Social Experiments PART III Integrating Stem Cell and Systems Biology Clinical Values Bibliography Index

About the author

MELINDA BONNIE FAGAN is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Rice University in Houston, Texas, USA. She has Ph Ds in Biological Sciences (Stanford University, 1998) and History and Philosophy of Science (Indiana University, Bloomington, 2007) and has published over twenty articles and book chapters on biology and philosophy of science.