In terms of biology, the function is a natural phenomenon in diversity or natural selection, which changes organisms’ organs, traits and behaviour with time. In other words, it is based on the theory of evolution, which says all the species are somehow related in terms of their origin but changes with time. These changes are on a genetic level, or we can say that these are genetic variations. These genetic variations can be due to mutations, alterations, genetic drift etc. So basically, in a particular population, these genetic variations affect the physical characteristics or, in other words, changes in genotype will ultimately affect the phenotype of an organism. As per the theory of natural selection, bad or harmful traits get eliminated from the population, and only good or beneficial traits are passed over generations. So these physical changes are somehow beneficial for the organisms, which is why natural selection allows them to pass over generations. For example, the presence of a koala’s pouch serves the purpose of protecting its young, and it’s advantageous.
Meaning of function
In straightforward terms, a function means something to produce or something that affects production. For example, the function of amino acids to catalyse RNA transcription. The function is associated with two qualities; teleology and normativity.
Teleology is something that explains the reason behind existence. For example, the presence of chlorophyll in green plants is to transform lights into energy. The concept of telos bridges the gap between teleology and biological function (end, goal). Teleology that is biologically insufficient assumes that teloi (ends, goals) exist in nature and that natural systems are directed toward them.
Normativity determines the standards by which a function operates. These standards should be particular. In this strict sense, goal-directedness and normativity of functions exist. The hypothesis is based on an internal physiological or neural mechanism that replicates an organism’s fitness and adjusts the organism’s variability accordingly. Subprocesses that monitor certain functions in an organism can be separated into the internal process’ structure.
Functional explanation
In the scientific and social sciences, functional explanations are a sort of explanation. Functional explanations are best stated by distinguishing them from functional statements using some examples.
Etiological function- When one presents a functional explanation, one brings about some prior factors regarding an object A to explain a given aspect b of A.
Causal role function- This theory explains the reason for the occurrence of a particular function. A causal role (CR) function is the output of a system’s component that contributes to a system’s capacity. It classifies functions according to their current causal involvement in achieving an enclosing system’s assumed capabilities.
Selected effect function
The selected effect functions are Adaptive characteristics, qualities that organisms have because they helped their ancestors survive – and are responsible for carrying out activities. This theory is sometimes referred to as etiological, which is based on a chain of historical causes. The Selected Effect function is whichever of its effects causes this benefit. Alternatively, such selection can be expressed in terms of fitness by requiring that functions have favourably influenced the fitness of the agent’s ancestors. Zebra stripes, for example, are thought to deter disease-carrying flies.
Fitness contribution function
It is based on the adaptive theory of function. It describes biological function utilising evolutionary theory’s conceptual resources. It is forward-looking: Regardless of the characteristic’s casual basis, the function of a trait is the influence on organismic fitness – or is predisposed to have.
Significance of function
The traits, actions, and parts of living beings are all assigned roles in biology. The function of anything might refer to its goal, a benefit it provides to an organism or the causal role it plays in a larger system’s capacity.
According to natural selection, biological functions contribute to fitness, improving the likelihood that an organism will live to reproduce. The role of chlorophyll in plants, for example, is to capture solar energy for photosynthesis, which adds to evolutionary success.
Improve our understanding of how environmental exposures, social variables, and behaviours (e.g., nutrition and physical exercise) affect biological systems like the epigenome, microbiome, and immune system to maintain health and build resilience.
The foundation of all biomedical science is an understanding of normal biology. Understanding homeostatic maintenance, anticipating how biological systems respond to their environment, and identifying disease and intervention targets require it.
Examples of function
Many biological organisms’ parts and operations appear to have a purpose. The fundamental purpose of the heart, for example, appears to be pumping blood, while the primary function of the eye appears to be facilitating vision.
Conclusion
We can consider function as the reason or need for some processor object that occurred in the system through natural selection. These are the mechanisms and structures that organisms use to adapt to short- and long-term changes in their surroundings. There are two phases of function, i.e. teleology and normativity. Three main theories deal with function: causal role effect, fitness contribution and selected effect function.