Explaining cancer : finding order in disorder / Anya Plutynski.
2018
RC261 .P58 2018
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Details
Title
Explaining cancer : finding order in disorder / Anya Plutynski.
Author
Plutynski, Anya, author.
ISBN
9780190878474 (electronic book)
Published
New York, NY : Oxford University Press, 2018.
Language
English
Description
1 online resource : illustrations
Call Number
RC261 .P58 2018
Dewey Decimal Classification
616.994
Summary
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the world. Almost everyone's life is in some way or other affected by cancer. Yet, when faced with a cancer diagnosis, many of us will confront questions we had never before considered: Is cancer one disease, or many? If many, how many exactly? How is cancer classified? What does it mean, exactly, to say that cancer is 'genetic,' or 'familial'? What exactly are the causes of cancer, and how do scientists come to know about them? When do we have good reason to believe that this or that is a risk factor for cancer? These questions are (in part) empirical ones; however, they are also (in part) philosophical. This work takes a close look at these philosophical questions, by examining the conceptual and methodological challenges that arise in cancer research, in disciplines as diverse as cell and molecular biology, epidemiology, clinical medicine, and evolutionary biology.
Note
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the world. Almost everyone's life is in some way or other affected by cancer. Yet, when faced with a cancer diagnosis, many of us will confront questions we had never before considered: Is cancer one disease, or many? If many, how many exactly? How is cancer classified? What does it mean, exactly, to say that cancer is 'genetic,' or 'familial'? What exactly are the causes of cancer, and how do scientists come to know about them? When do we have good reason to believe that this or that is a risk factor for cancer? These questions are (in part) empirical ones; however, they are also (in part) philosophical. This work takes a close look at these philosophical questions, by examining the conceptual and methodological challenges that arise in cancer research, in disciplines as diverse as cell and molecular biology, epidemiology, clinical medicine, and evolutionary biology.
Bibliography, etc. Note
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Access Note
Access limited to authorized users.
Source of Description
Description based on online resource; title from home page (viewed on July 9, 2018).
Available in Other Form
Print version: 9780199967452
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