Alfred Locker – författare

The development of the life sciences may be said to have effected a gradual transition from a more or less intuitive prescientific approach based on crude observation, via a more refined type of observation to experimentation and hence to the level of formal theories. Quantitative methods are introduced at the second level; they comprise: (a) quantitative design of experiments; (b) regrouping of experimental results; (c) evalua­ tion of results by means of mathematical or special statistical techniques. The last step implies the introduction of theoretical concepts, but we are not justified in speaking of theoretical science unless true theoretical con­ siderations-models or hypotheses-precede experiment, and this is then followed by an attempt to link results with theory so as to verify the theory. Biology at present seems to lie somewhere between the second and third level mentioned above, not yet having achieved the status of a theoretical science in all its branches. Thus, though the need for quantification and mathematical formulation is widely recognized, many biologists still believe that e.g. general systems theory is too abstract to be of use in handling concrete problems. Those, however, who look critically at the present state of affairs cannot adopt this attitude.

In 1963, 1965 and 1967 "Symposia on Quantitative Biology of Metabolism" were organized on the pretty island of Helgoland (Biologische Anstalt) by me in col­ laboration with O. KINNE and F. KROGER. Unfortunately this worthy approach towards bringing together interested scholars in a regular way ceased, mainly for financial reasons, although the need for and interest in conferences like these for the exchange of ideas on special topics unchangeably persists. So I had to look for other possibilities and one of them was to try to arrange a similar con­ ference under the auspices of NASA. This institution, however, eventually re-. treated, although during my discussion with its representatives a new special theme gained shape. This is the topic to which this volume is devoted: Bio­ genesis. It is also treated in a new way that probably could be a model for. similar undertakings: a symposium by correspondence. In this new approach to scientific information exchange, manuscripts were collected by the editor and sent to every contributor for his comments. The author could then reply by means of a concluding remark. So, in many instances very valuable ideas concerning the topics of the several papers could be gathered and it is to be hoped that this procedure has conferred upon this volume a certain uniqueness. Of course, I had to observe the agreement with Springer-Verlag not to exceed the extent of the volume allotted to us.

The development of the life sciences may be said to have effected a gradual transition from a more or less intuitive prescientific approach based on crude observation, via a more refined type of observation to experimentation and hence to the level of formal theories. Quantitative methods are introduced at the second level; they comprise: (a) quantitative design of experiments; (b) regrouping of experimental results; (c) evalua­ tion of results by means of mathematical or special statistical techniques. The last step implies the introduction of theoretical concepts, but we are not justified in speaking of theoretical science unless true theoretical con­ siderations-models or hypotheses-precede experiment, and this is then followed by an attempt to link results with theory so as to verify the theory. Biology at present seems to lie somewhere between the second and third level mentioned above, not yet having achieved the status of a theoretical science in all its branches. Thus, though the need for quantification and mathematical formulation is widely recognized, many biologists still believe that e.g. general systems theory is too abstract to be of use in handling concrete problems. Those, however, who look critically at the present state of affairs cannot adopt this attitude.