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A Point of View

Factual: Life Stories

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Tom Shakespeare

Richard Knight

A Point of View: Fly, Fish, Mouse and Worm

Factual

Fly, Fish, Mouse and Worm

14/06/2013

BBC Radio 4 - A Point of View, Fly, Fish, Mouse and Worm

Tom Shakespeare on 'model animals' and the success of the reductionism scientific strategy

The 'model animal' method epitomizes the success of the scientific strategy of reductionism, says Tom Shakespeare. But it may also illustrate the downside.

"When I was a child, one of my favourite books was Bear, Mouse and Water Beetle," says Tom Shakespeare. "Today, I want to tell you a contemporary story, which you could call Fly, Fish, Mouse and Worm."

These 'model animals' help scientists to understand the basic processes common to all living creatures. But while model animals epitomize the success of the scientific strategy of reductionism, they may also illustrate the downside.

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