Scientific theories in biology often propose unseen mechanisms before experimental evidence exists, guided by scientists' philosophical frameworks. Two landmark examples—Peter Mitchell's chemiosmotic theory and clonal selection theory of adaptive immunity—explained fundamental life processes by drawing on broader philosophical commitments that allowed researchers to transcend existing theoretical constraints.
The article examines the role of theory in biology, arguing that theoretical biology deserves greater institutional recognition despite being less established than theoretical physics. It traces how biological theories—from genes to the genetic code—were often postulated before experimental confirmation, demonstrating theory's crucial role in understanding life's fundamental mechanisms.