The Existential Stakes of Epigenetics

Jaarsma, Ada S.

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-57981-8_3

Cited by 1 publication

(2 citation statements)

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“…On the one hand, research in the field of epigenetics could contribute to the reconfiguration of complex notions of social change and political movements into their corresponding standardized, material metrics at the biological level (Chung et al, 2016; Davis, 2014; Lloyd and Raikhel, 2018). Epigenetic markers could be mobilized by deprived individuals or groups as proof of past exposure to unfair shares of social adversity, and as an additional argument from the molecular level for greater social justice (Jaarsma, 2017; Kuzawa and Sweet, 2009; Sullivan, 2013: 190–218).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, many fear that some of these policies may disproportionally burden already vulnerable groups, by normalizing epigenetically favorable environments and further marginalizing others (Mansfield, 2012; Mansfield and Guthman, 2015). Authors suggest there ought to be a balance between recognizing the problems generated by past racialized research, and the potential for a new ‘plastic and biosocial’ view of race that draws together social and biological evidence of harm (Jaarsma, 2017; Meloni, 2017).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Epigenetics, ethics, law and society: A multidisciplinary review of descriptive, instrumental, dialectical and reflexive analyses

2019

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Epigenetics, defined as ‘the study of mitotically and/or meiotically heritable changes in gene function that cannot be explained by changes in DNA sequence’, has emerged as a promissory yet controversial field of scientific inquiry over the past decade. Scholars from many disciplines have formulated both optimistic and cautionary claims regarding its potential normative implications. This article provides a comprehensive review of the nascent literature at the crossroads of epigenetics, ethics, law and society. It describes nine emerging areas of discussion, relating to (1) the impact of epigenetics on the nature versus nurture dualism, (2) the potential resulting biologization of the social, (3) the meaning of epigenetics for public health, its potential influence on (4) reproduction and parenting, (5) political theory and (6) legal proceedings, and concerns regarding (7) stigmatization and discrimination, (8) privacy protection and (9) knowledge translation. While there is some degree of similarity between the nature and content of these areas and the abundant literature on ethical, legal and social issues in genetics, the potential implications of epigenetics ought not be conflated with the latter. Critical studies on epigenetics are emerging within a separate space of bioethical and biopolitical investigations and claims, with scholars from various epistemological standpoints utilizing distinct yet complementary analytical approaches.

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