Sequencing through thick and thin: Historiographical and philosophical implications

DNA sequencing has been characterised by scholars and life scientists as an example of ‘big’, ‘fast’ and ‘automated’ science in biology. This paper argues, however, that these characterisations are a product of a particular interpretation of what sequencing is, what I call ‘thin sequencing’. The ‘th...

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Published in:Studies in history and philosophy of science. Part C, Studies in history and philosophy of biological and biomedical sciences Studies in history and philosophy of biological and biomedical sciences, 2018-12, Vol.72, p.10-27
Main Author: Lowe, James W.E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Annotation
Assembly
DNA
Genome
Genomics
Genomics - history
Historiography
History, 21st Century
Philosophy
Physical mapping
Sequence Analysis, DNA - history
Sequence Analysis, DNA - veterinary
Sequencing
Sus scrofa - genetics
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Summary:DNA sequencing has been characterised by scholars and life scientists as an example of ‘big’, ‘fast’ and ‘automated’ science in biology. This paper argues, however, that these characterisations are a product of a particular interpretation of what sequencing is, what I call ‘thin sequencing’. The ‘thin sequencing’ perspective focuses on the determination of the order of bases in a particular stretch of DNA. Based upon my research on the pig genome mapping and sequencing projects, I provide an alternative ‘thick sequencing’ perspective, which also includes a number of practices that enable the sequence to travel across and be used in wider communities. If we take sequencing in the thin manner to be an event demarcated by the determination of sequences in automated sequencing machines and computers, this has consequences for the historical analysis of sequencing projects, as it focuses attention on those parts of the work of sequencing that are more centralised, fast (and accelerating) and automated. I argue instead that sequencing can be interpreted as a more open-ended process including activities such as the generation of a minimum tile path or annotation, and detail the historiographical and philosophical consequences of this move. •DNA sequencing is primarily understood by a ‘thin sequencing’ perspective.•I propose a ‘thick sequencing’ perspective.•Thick sequencing includes different stages of assembly, evaluation and annotation.•An alternative picture of the nature and organisation of sequencing is presented.
ISSN:1369-8486
1879-2499
DOI:10.1016/j.shpsc.2018.10.007