This course delves into the central role of property functions in scientific and medical
paradigms, tracing their evolution through key shifts in the history of science. Beginning with
the early Enlightenment, we explore how the perceptible properties of botanicals were used to
describe diseases and healing processes. The course then examines the transformative advent
of chemistry, where the focus shifted to imperceptible chemical properties, leading to a deeper
understanding of not only how but why drugs heal—marking a transition from mere description
to comprehensive explanation.
As science progressed into the molecular era, the investigation of properties moved to an even
more granular level. The focus shifted from the observable functions of organisms to the
intricate molecular functions and ultimately to the properties of genes. This course offers an in-
depth exploration of how the understanding and manipulation of property functions have shaped
scientific and medical advancements from the Enlightenment to the present day.
- Trainer/in: Gesine Katharina Madeleine Finn
- Trainer/in: Caterina Anna Schürch
- Trainer/in: Tracy Lee Wietecha