How Well Does Evolution Explain Endogenous Retroviruses?—A Lakatosian Assessment
One of the most sophisticated philosophies of science is the methodology of scientific research programmes (MSRP), developed by Imre Lakatos. According to MSRP, scientists are working within so-called research programmes, consisting of a hard core of fixed convictions and a flexible protective belt...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Viruses |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/14/1/14 |
| _version_ | 1797489797295505408 |
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| author | Ruben N. Jorritsma |
| author_facet | Ruben N. Jorritsma |
| author_sort | Ruben N. Jorritsma |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | One of the most sophisticated philosophies of science is the methodology of scientific research programmes (MSRP), developed by Imre Lakatos. According to MSRP, scientists are working within so-called research programmes, consisting of a hard core of fixed convictions and a flexible protective belt of auxiliary hypotheses. Anomalies are accommodated by changes to the protective belt that do not affect the hard core. Under MSRP, research programmes are appraised as ‘progressive’ if they successfully predict novel facts but are judged as ‘degenerative’ if they merely offer ad hoc solutions to anomalies. This paper applies these criteria to the evolutionary research programme as it has performed during half a century of ERV research. It describes the early history of the field and the emergence of the endogenization-amplification theory on the origins of retroviral-like sequences. It then discusses various predictions and postdictions that were generated by the programme, regarding orthologous ERVs in different species, the presence of target site duplications and the divergence of long terminal repeats, and appraises how the programme has dealt with data that did not conform to initial expectations. It is concluded that the evolutionary research programme has been progressive with regard to the issues here examined. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:21:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-655e5bb09d264249b50672a21eccf9e2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4915 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:21:47Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Viruses |
| spelling | doaj.art-655e5bb09d264249b50672a21eccf9e22023-11-23T15:40:47ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152021-12-011411410.3390/v14010014How Well Does Evolution Explain Endogenous Retroviruses?—A Lakatosian AssessmentRuben N. Jorritsma0Philosophy Group, Wageningen University & Research, 6700 EW Wageningen, The NetherlandsOne of the most sophisticated philosophies of science is the methodology of scientific research programmes (MSRP), developed by Imre Lakatos. According to MSRP, scientists are working within so-called research programmes, consisting of a hard core of fixed convictions and a flexible protective belt of auxiliary hypotheses. Anomalies are accommodated by changes to the protective belt that do not affect the hard core. Under MSRP, research programmes are appraised as ‘progressive’ if they successfully predict novel facts but are judged as ‘degenerative’ if they merely offer ad hoc solutions to anomalies. This paper applies these criteria to the evolutionary research programme as it has performed during half a century of ERV research. It describes the early history of the field and the emergence of the endogenization-amplification theory on the origins of retroviral-like sequences. It then discusses various predictions and postdictions that were generated by the programme, regarding orthologous ERVs in different species, the presence of target site duplications and the divergence of long terminal repeats, and appraises how the programme has dealt with data that did not conform to initial expectations. It is concluded that the evolutionary research programme has been progressive with regard to the issues here examined.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/14/1/14endogenous retroviruses (ERVs)endogenization-amplification theory (EAT)phylogeneticsevolutionmethodology of scientific research programmes (MSRP)evolutionary research programme |
| spellingShingle | Ruben N. Jorritsma How Well Does Evolution Explain Endogenous Retroviruses?—A Lakatosian Assessment Viruses endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) endogenization-amplification theory (EAT) phylogenetics evolution methodology of scientific research programmes (MSRP) evolutionary research programme |
| title | How Well Does Evolution Explain Endogenous Retroviruses?—A Lakatosian Assessment |
| title_full | How Well Does Evolution Explain Endogenous Retroviruses?—A Lakatosian Assessment |
| title_fullStr | How Well Does Evolution Explain Endogenous Retroviruses?—A Lakatosian Assessment |
| title_full_unstemmed | How Well Does Evolution Explain Endogenous Retroviruses?—A Lakatosian Assessment |
| title_short | How Well Does Evolution Explain Endogenous Retroviruses?—A Lakatosian Assessment |
| title_sort | how well does evolution explain endogenous retroviruses a lakatosian assessment |
| topic | endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) endogenization-amplification theory (EAT) phylogenetics evolution methodology of scientific research programmes (MSRP) evolutionary research programme |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/14/1/14 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rubennjorritsma howwelldoesevolutionexplainendogenousretrovirusesalakatosianassessment |