Comprehending the body in the era of the epigenome
This paper suggests that it is urgent for anthropologists to respond to a current move in epigenetics in which nature and nurture are no longer understood as dichotomous elements. It is argued that a neobiological reductionism is currently taking shape due to molecularization of the environment by e...
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ftdeakinunifig:oai:figshare.com:article/20807593 2024-06-23T07:52:52+00:00 Comprehending the body in the era of the epigenome M Lock W Burke J Dupré H Landecker J Livingston P Martin Maurizio Meloni G Pálsson R Rapp KM Weiss AV Buchanan 2015-04-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10536/DRO/DU:30107804 https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Comprehending_the_body_in_the_era_of_the_epigenome/20807593 unknown http://hdl.handle.net/10536/DRO/DU:30107804 https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Comprehending_the_body_in_the_era_of_the_epigenome/20807593 All Rights Reserved Archaeology not elsewhere classified Anthropology not elsewhere classified Other law and legal studies not elsewhere classified epigenetics nature nurture neobiological reductionism molecularization environment anthropology 160806 Social Theory 160808 Sociology and Social Studies of Science and Technology 220206 History and Philosophy of Science (incl Non-Historical Philosophy of Science) 970116 Expanding Knowledge through Studies of Human Society 970122 Expanding Knowledge in Philosophy and Religious Studies Alfred Deakin Research Institute Text Journal contribution 2015 ftdeakinunifig 2024-06-06T01:28:34Z This paper suggests that it is urgent for anthropologists to respond to a current move in epigenetics in which nature and nurture are no longer understood as dichotomous elements. It is argued that a neobiological reductionism is currently taking shape due to molecularization of the environment by epigeneticists. Anthropological concepts of embodiment should be retheorized in light of this development. The formation of epigenetics as a discipline is discussed, then the habitual black-boxing of the post-Enlightenment material body is noted. Five illustrative examples are given of recent epigenetic findings: the impact of maternal stress on fetal dysfunction, social deprivation and epigenetic changes, food as molecularized epigenetics, aging and epigenetics, and toxins as epigenetic triggers. “Embedded bodies,” “local biologies,” and “biosocial becomings” are introduced as concepts that enable the insertion of an anthropological perspective into this emerging debate. A brief account of historical trauma and its ongoing effects as experienced by First Nations and Inuit of Canada are given in conclusion. It is argued that historical and ethnographic accounts are indispensable if epigenetic findings are to avoid neoreductionism and contribute to policy changes to improve human well-being. Article in Journal/Newspaper First Nations inuit DRO - Deakin Research Online Boxing ENVELOPE(-61.691,-61.691,-64.586,-64.586) Canada Deakin ENVELOPE(171.667,171.667,-84.667,-84.667) |
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Open Polar |
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DRO - Deakin Research Online |
op_collection_id |
ftdeakinunifig |
language |
unknown |
topic |
Archaeology not elsewhere classified Anthropology not elsewhere classified Other law and legal studies not elsewhere classified epigenetics nature nurture neobiological reductionism molecularization environment anthropology 160806 Social Theory 160808 Sociology and Social Studies of Science and Technology 220206 History and Philosophy of Science (incl Non-Historical Philosophy of Science) 970116 Expanding Knowledge through Studies of Human Society 970122 Expanding Knowledge in Philosophy and Religious Studies Alfred Deakin Research Institute |
spellingShingle |
Archaeology not elsewhere classified Anthropology not elsewhere classified Other law and legal studies not elsewhere classified epigenetics nature nurture neobiological reductionism molecularization environment anthropology 160806 Social Theory 160808 Sociology and Social Studies of Science and Technology 220206 History and Philosophy of Science (incl Non-Historical Philosophy of Science) 970116 Expanding Knowledge through Studies of Human Society 970122 Expanding Knowledge in Philosophy and Religious Studies Alfred Deakin Research Institute M Lock W Burke J Dupré H Landecker J Livingston P Martin Maurizio Meloni G Pálsson R Rapp KM Weiss AV Buchanan Comprehending the body in the era of the epigenome |
topic_facet |
Archaeology not elsewhere classified Anthropology not elsewhere classified Other law and legal studies not elsewhere classified epigenetics nature nurture neobiological reductionism molecularization environment anthropology 160806 Social Theory 160808 Sociology and Social Studies of Science and Technology 220206 History and Philosophy of Science (incl Non-Historical Philosophy of Science) 970116 Expanding Knowledge through Studies of Human Society 970122 Expanding Knowledge in Philosophy and Religious Studies Alfred Deakin Research Institute |
description |
This paper suggests that it is urgent for anthropologists to respond to a current move in epigenetics in which nature and nurture are no longer understood as dichotomous elements. It is argued that a neobiological reductionism is currently taking shape due to molecularization of the environment by epigeneticists. Anthropological concepts of embodiment should be retheorized in light of this development. The formation of epigenetics as a discipline is discussed, then the habitual black-boxing of the post-Enlightenment material body is noted. Five illustrative examples are given of recent epigenetic findings: the impact of maternal stress on fetal dysfunction, social deprivation and epigenetic changes, food as molecularized epigenetics, aging and epigenetics, and toxins as epigenetic triggers. “Embedded bodies,” “local biologies,” and “biosocial becomings” are introduced as concepts that enable the insertion of an anthropological perspective into this emerging debate. A brief account of historical trauma and its ongoing effects as experienced by First Nations and Inuit of Canada are given in conclusion. It is argued that historical and ethnographic accounts are indispensable if epigenetic findings are to avoid neoreductionism and contribute to policy changes to improve human well-being. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
M Lock W Burke J Dupré H Landecker J Livingston P Martin Maurizio Meloni G Pálsson R Rapp KM Weiss AV Buchanan |
author_facet |
M Lock W Burke J Dupré H Landecker J Livingston P Martin Maurizio Meloni G Pálsson R Rapp KM Weiss AV Buchanan |
author_sort |
M Lock |
title |
Comprehending the body in the era of the epigenome |
title_short |
Comprehending the body in the era of the epigenome |
title_full |
Comprehending the body in the era of the epigenome |
title_fullStr |
Comprehending the body in the era of the epigenome |
title_full_unstemmed |
Comprehending the body in the era of the epigenome |
title_sort |
comprehending the body in the era of the epigenome |
publishDate |
2015 |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/10536/DRO/DU:30107804 https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Comprehending_the_body_in_the_era_of_the_epigenome/20807593 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-61.691,-61.691,-64.586,-64.586) ENVELOPE(171.667,171.667,-84.667,-84.667) |
geographic |
Boxing Canada Deakin |
geographic_facet |
Boxing Canada Deakin |
genre |
First Nations inuit |
genre_facet |
First Nations inuit |
op_relation |
http://hdl.handle.net/10536/DRO/DU:30107804 https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Comprehending_the_body_in_the_era_of_the_epigenome/20807593 |
op_rights |
All Rights Reserved |
_version_ |
1802644276248576000 |