MetaType
METATYPES
TYPES
TOKENS
Figure 2: Classifying the concepts based on their cognitive function.
between the concept types and concepts, as shown in figure 2.
Figure 2, shows the organized form of body of knowledge about the
structures in the cell. In the metatype layer, the concepts are categorized
as structural concept, taxonomical concept, relational concept etc. In the
type layer, the structures, process are represented (in the form of an in-
stance of the metatype layer); and the different kinds of structures of the
cell (nucleus, mitochondria etc.) or processes of the cell (protein synthe-
sis, lipid synthesis) are organized as the subtypes of the types within type
layer. Most of the knowledge is organized in the type layer. The last layer
i.e. the token layer represents the individuals i.e. specific instances of the
types. Since in science we talk about generals rather than particulars, in a
knowledge base of sciences we do not expect many tokens. However, data
collected during experimental activities is most about particulars.
Much of the core biological knowledge is contained in physiology, molec-