Representing with model organisms: a refined DEKI account

Abstract In this article, we mobilize and refine the DEKI account of scientific representation to contend that model organisms are not models tout court but model ‘carriers,’ only abstracted and selected ‘parts’ of which are included in biological models. These parts correspond to phenomena of interest that are interpreted as mechanisms or other kinds of causal processes within certain theoretical domains. The models can then be used to represent similar target phenomena in other organisms. Our proposal paves the way to reconcile opposing positions apropos the representational status of model organisms and build a more robust epistemology of model organism-based research.