Open biomedical pluralism: formalising knowledge about breast cancer phenotypes.

ABSTRACT: We demonstrate a heterogeneity of representation types for breast cancer phenotypes and stress that the characterisation of a tumour phenotype often includes parameters that go beyond the representation of a corresponding empirically observed tumour, thus reflecting significant functional features of the phenotypes as well as epistemic interests that drive the modes of representation. Accordingly, the represented features of cancer phenotypes function as epistemic vehicles aiding various classifications, explanations, and predictions. In order to clarify how the plurality of epistemic motivations can be integrated on a formal level, we give a distinction between six categories of human agents as individuals and groups focused around particular epistemic interests. We analyse the correspond

SUBMITTER: Sojic A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3448532 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature