‘Extreme’ Organisms and the Problem of Generalization: Interpreting the Krogh Principle
Green, S; Dietrich, M; Leonelli, S; et al.Ankeny, R
Date: 31 October 2018
Journal
History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences
Publisher
Springer Verlag / Stazione Zoologica
Publisher DOI
Abstract
Many biologists appeal to the so-called Krogh principle when justifying their choice of
experimental organisms. The principle states that “for a large number of problems there will be
some animal of choice, or a few such animals, on which it can be most conveniently studied”.
Despite its popularity, the principle is often critiqued ...
Many biologists appeal to the so-called Krogh principle when justifying their choice of
experimental organisms. The principle states that “for a large number of problems there will be
some animal of choice, or a few such animals, on which it can be most conveniently studied”.
Despite its popularity, the principle is often critiqued for implying unwarranted generalizations
from optimal models. We argue that the Krogh principle should be interpreted in relation to
the historical and scientific contexts in which it has been developed and used. We interpret the
Krogh Principle as a heuristic, i.e., as a recommendation to approach biological problems
through organisms where a specific trait or physiological mechanism is expected to be most
distinctively displayed or most experimentally accessible. We designate these organisms “Krogh
organisms.” We clarify the differences between uses of model organisms and non-standard
Krogh organisms. Among these is the use of Krogh organisms as “negative models” in
biomedical research, where organisms are chosen for their dissimilarity to human physiology.
Importantly, the representational scope of Krogh organisms and the generalizability of their
characteristics are not fixed or assumed but explored through experimental studies. Research
on Krogh organisms is steeped in the comparative method characteristic of zoology and
comparative physiology, in which studies of biological variation produce insights into general
physiological constraints. Accordingly, we conclude that the Krogh principle exemplifies the
advantages of studying biological variation as a strategy to produce generalizable insights.
Social and Political Sciences, Philosophy, and Anthropology
Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
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