This review serves as an introduction to a Special Issue of CBP focused on the use of reductionist approaches to explore questions in comparative biochemistry and physiology of animals. An overarching goal for research is to provide new insight and knowledge to advance the field. The significance of the research is dependent upon utilizing the most appropriate approach to get the most reliable data, which requires being knowledgeable about the experimental system and its limitations. It is not a trivial task to decide which level of biological organization is best suited to answer the question of interest, because each choice is a balance between strengths and weaknesses. Reporting caveats and limitations is perceived to detract from the definitiveness and value of a study, and so these are typically avoided, or included begrudgingly to appease a reviewer. Reductionist approaches are most valuable when the results can be translated to other biological levels of organization, providing physiological context for the work. Such extensions must also be accompanied by the appropriate assumptions and caveats arising from both the experimental system or its translation to higher levels of biological organization. In preparing this review, we seek to encourage authors to share the weaknesses and caveats in their approaches, and address the challenges associated with demonstrating the relevance of a reductionist approach to higher levels of organization.

这篇评论作为CBP特刊的简介，该刊物着重于使用还原论方法探索动物的比较生物化学和生理学方面的问题。研究的总体目标是提供新的见识和知识，以推动该领域的发展。这项研究的意义取决于采用最合适的方法来获得最可靠的数据，这需要对实验系统及其局限性有所了解。确定哪种生物学组织最适合回答感兴趣的问题并不是一件容易的事，因为每种选择都是长处和短处之间的平衡。报告警告和限制会损害研究的确定性和价值，因此通常避免使用这些警告和限制，或含糊地安抚评论者。当结果可以转化为组织的其他生物学水平，从而为工作提供生理环境时，还原论方法最有价值。这种扩展还必须伴随有适当的假设和警告，这些假设和警告来自实验系统或将其转换为更高水平的生物组织。在准备本综述时，我们试图鼓励作者分享他们在方法上的弱点和警告，并应对与证明简化派方法与更高级别的组织的相关性相关的挑战。这种扩展还必须伴随有适当的假设和警告，这些假设和警告来自实验系统或将其转换为更高水平的生物组织。在准备本综述时，我们试图鼓励作者分享他们在方法上的弱点和警告，并解决与证明简化派方法与更高级别的组织的相关性相关的挑战。这种扩展还必须伴随有适当的假设和警告，这些假设和警告来自实验系统或将其转换为更高水平的生物组织。在准备本综述时，我们试图鼓励作者分享他们在方法上的弱点和警告，并应对与证明简化派方法与更高级别的组织的相关性相关的挑战。