On the means of bioproduction : bioinformatics and how to make knowledge in a high-throughput genomics laboratory
Accounts of ‘biocapital’ abound in studies of the contemporary biosciences. However, these have tended to pay attention to the use and consumption of biological knowledge rather than the means and conditions of the production of data. This paper draws on an ethnographic account of a high-throughput...
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
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2013
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| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/100728 http://hdl.handle.net/10220/18199 |
| _version_ | 1826114281626664960 |
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| author | Stevens, Hallam |
| author2 | School of Humanities and Social Sciences |
| author_facet | School of Humanities and Social Sciences Stevens, Hallam |
| author_sort | Stevens, Hallam |
| collection | NTU |
| description | Accounts of ‘biocapital’ abound in studies of the contemporary biosciences. However, these have tended to pay attention to the use and consumption of biological knowledge rather than the means and conditions of the production of data. This paper draws on an ethnographic account of a high-throughput genomics laboratory (the Eli and Edythe L. Broad Institute, Cambridge MA) to show how the means through which biological data is produced exerts a determinative effect on the kind of knowledge that is generated by the laboratory. High-speed, high-volume, high-efficiency production of data requires the high-throughput consumption of data by statistical and computational techniques. These techniques, in turn, generate general, broad-scale accounts of biological systems, rather than particular knowledge about individual genes or biological components. This cycle of production and consumption is described as ‘bioinformatics’ in order to indicate the centrality of computers and computing to the knowledge production process in contemporary biology. |
| first_indexed | 2024-10-01T03:36:37Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | ntu-10356/100728 |
| institution | Nanyang Technological University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-10-01T03:36:37Z |
| publishDate | 2013 |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | ntu-10356/1007282020-03-07T12:10:41Z On the means of bioproduction : bioinformatics and how to make knowledge in a high-throughput genomics laboratory Stevens, Hallam School of Humanities and Social Sciences DRNTU::Science::Biological sciences Accounts of ‘biocapital’ abound in studies of the contemporary biosciences. However, these have tended to pay attention to the use and consumption of biological knowledge rather than the means and conditions of the production of data. This paper draws on an ethnographic account of a high-throughput genomics laboratory (the Eli and Edythe L. Broad Institute, Cambridge MA) to show how the means through which biological data is produced exerts a determinative effect on the kind of knowledge that is generated by the laboratory. High-speed, high-volume, high-efficiency production of data requires the high-throughput consumption of data by statistical and computational techniques. These techniques, in turn, generate general, broad-scale accounts of biological systems, rather than particular knowledge about individual genes or biological components. This cycle of production and consumption is described as ‘bioinformatics’ in order to indicate the centrality of computers and computing to the knowledge production process in contemporary biology. Accepted version 2013-12-11T01:46:45Z 2019-12-06T20:27:19Z 2013-12-11T01:46:45Z 2019-12-06T20:27:19Z 2011 2011 Journal Article Hallam, S. (2011). On the means of bioproduction : bioinformatics and how to make knowledge in a high-throughput genomics laboratory. Biosocieties, 6, 217-242. https://hdl.handle.net/10356/100728 http://hdl.handle.net/10220/18199 10.1057/biosoc.2010.38 161743 en Biosocieties © 2011 Palgrave Macmillan. This is the author created version of a work that has been peer reviewed and accepted for publication by Biosocieties, Palgrave Macmillan. It incorporates referee’s comments but changes resulting from the publishing process, such as copyediting, structural formatting, may not be reflected in this document. The published version is available at:http://dx.doi.org/10.1057/biosoc.2010.38 . application/pdf |
| spellingShingle | DRNTU::Science::Biological sciences Stevens, Hallam On the means of bioproduction : bioinformatics and how to make knowledge in a high-throughput genomics laboratory |
| title | On the means of bioproduction : bioinformatics and how to make knowledge in a high-throughput genomics laboratory |
| title_full | On the means of bioproduction : bioinformatics and how to make knowledge in a high-throughput genomics laboratory |
| title_fullStr | On the means of bioproduction : bioinformatics and how to make knowledge in a high-throughput genomics laboratory |
| title_full_unstemmed | On the means of bioproduction : bioinformatics and how to make knowledge in a high-throughput genomics laboratory |
| title_short | On the means of bioproduction : bioinformatics and how to make knowledge in a high-throughput genomics laboratory |
| title_sort | on the means of bioproduction bioinformatics and how to make knowledge in a high throughput genomics laboratory |
| topic | DRNTU::Science::Biological sciences |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/100728 http://hdl.handle.net/10220/18199 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT stevenshallam onthemeansofbioproductionbioinformaticsandhowtomakeknowledgeinahighthroughputgenomicslaboratory |