GLUE, VERB AND TEXT METAPHORS IN BIOLOGY

Metaphor influences the construction of biological models and theories and the analysis of its use can reveal important tools of thought. So me aspects of biological organisation are investigated through the ana lysis of metaphors associated with treating biosystems as a kind of te xt In particular, the use of glue and verbs is considered. Some of the reasons why glue is important in the construction of hierarchies are pursued in the light of specific examples, and some of the conceptual links between glue in biology and other domains is discussed. Verbs ar e shown to be important in the construction of networks. Some of the r elations between glue, verb and text are considered and the text metap hor is placed within a much broader context of ideas associated with f orm, relation and system. The paper concludes with comments on the nat ure of biological information and the need for extending or better und erstanding the verbal vocabulary.