“Philosophers and biologists exploring epigenetics”

Speybroeck, Linda Van

doi:10.1023/a:1022590131272

Cited by 17 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…This mechanism plays an important role in human development and disease, primarily by regulating gene expression. 1 Because of the modifiable nature of epigenetic influence, research into DNA methylation has heralded a new era in the elusive search for the route by which the external world might “get under the skin.” 2 By its very nature, this question spans multiple disciplines; geneticists, 3 biologists, 4 computational scientists, 5 neuroscientists, 6 social scientists, 7 and philosophers 8 have been drawn to massive new data about the epigenome with an eye toward how it might explain health, disease, and our very nature. The promise of the epigenetics revolution has been sweeping.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Patterns of Reliability: Assessing the Reproducibility and Integrity of DNA Methylation Measurement

et al. 2020

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SUMMARY DNA methylation plays an important role in both normal human development and risk of disease. The most utilized method of assessing DNA methylation uses BeadChips, generating an epigenome-wide “snapshot” of >450,000 observations (probe measurements) per assay. However, the reliability of each of these measurements is not equal, and little consideration is paid to consequences for research. We correlated repeat measurements of the same DNA samples using the Illumina HumanMethylation450K and the Infinium MethylationEPIC BeadChips in 350 blood DNA samples. Probes that were reliably measured were more heritable and showed consistent associations with environmental exposures, gene expression, and greater cross-tissue concordance. Unreliable probes were less replicable and generated an unknown volume of false negatives. This serves as a lesson for working with DNA methylation data, but the lessons are equally applicable to working with other data: as we advance toward generating increasingly greater volumes of data, failure to document reliability risks harming reproducibility.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Patterns of Reliability: Assessing the Reproducibility and Integrity of DNA Methylation Measurement

et al. 2020

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“…L’épigénétique contribue à écarter les présupposés déterministes liés à une appréhension réductrice de l’information génétique, «selon [laquelle] l’héritage génétique déterminerait intégralement le cours d’une vie. [...] ce postulat est tout simplement faux [...] parce qu’il néglige non seulement les variations phénotypiques de l’expression de gènes spécifiques, mais aussi l’importance de l’environnement et des choix individuels pour la construction d’une vie unique» (voir Buchanan et al , 2000, p. 197; van Speybroeck, 2002). Or ces choix individuels ne sont pas seulement ceux de l’individu concerné par le développement de possibles pathologies, mais également ceux des générations qui l’ont directement précédé 2 .…”

Section: Introductionunclassified

Quelle théorie de la justice pour l’épigénétique?

Lafaye

2015

Dialogue

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L'épigénétique dévoile les mécanismes biologiques sous-jacents à la reproduction, voire à la transmission des inégalités sociales de santé, et souligne la complexité des facteurs intervenant dans le développement de certaines pathologies. Cette complexité semble poser des diffi cultés inédites aux théories de la justice. Nous dessinons les contours d'une «justice épigénétique» en appréhendant d'abord les questions que l'épigénétique pose aux théories de la justice distributive. Le modèle de l'égalité des chances est-il le plus approprié pour saisir ces questions? Nous montrons que l'épigénétique ne peut être pensée qu'à partir d'un modèle de justice plurifactoriel. Selon la perspective adoptée (individuelle, populationnelle, intergénérationnelle), le principe de justice pertinent est distinct.ABSTRACT: Epigenetics reveals the biological mechanisms underlying the reproduction and even the transmission of social inequalities in health. It also emphasizes the complexity of factors involved in the development of some diseases. This complexity raises new difficulties for theories of justice. Is the equal opportunities theory the most appropriate to solve these diffi culties? I demonstrate that epigenetics requires a multifactor model of justice-one that is grounded on principles of fairness, impartiality, and environmental and intergenerational justice. Depending on the point of view assumed (i.e., individual, population-based, or intergenerational), the relevant principle of justice is different.

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“…Both parties were explicitly asked to take distance from too strict jargons and to find common themes of discussion in order to explore the possibility of a dialogue between philosophers and biologists (cf. Van Speybroeck 2002). This particular setup was attributed a pioneer's role in the workshop on 'Epigenetics: Historical and Conceptual Perspectives' (9-11 February 2006, Berlin), organized by the Zentrum für Literaturforschung (i.c.w.…”

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Philosophy of Biology: About the Fossilization of Disciplines and Other Embryonic Thoughts

Speybroeck

2007

Acta Biotheor

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This paper focuses on a running dispute between Werner Callebaut's naturalistic view and Filip Kolen and Gertrudis Van de Vijver's transcendentalist view on the nature of philosophy of biology and the relation of this discipline to biological sciences. It is argued that, despite differences in opinion, both positions agree that philosophy of biology's ultimate goal is to 'move' biology or at least be 'meaningful' to it. In order to make this goal clear and effective, more is needed than a polarizing debate which hardly touches upon biology. Therefore, a redirection in discussion is suggested towards a reflection on the possibilities of incorporating philosophy in interdisciplinary research, and on finding concrete research questions which are of interest both to the philosopher and to the biologist.

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“Philosophers and biologists exploring epigenetics”

Cited by 17 publications

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Patterns of Reliability: Assessing the Reproducibility and Integrity of DNA Methylation Measurement

Patterns of Reliability: Assessing the Reproducibility and Integrity of DNA Methylation Measurement

Quelle théorie de la justice pour l’épigénétique?

Philosophy of Biology: About the Fossilization of Disciplines and Other Embryonic Thoughts

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