Comprehending the Body in the Era of the Epigenome

Current Anthropology, Journal Year: 2015, Volume and Issue: 56(2), P. 151 - 177

Published: March 18, 2015

This paper suggests that it is urgent for anthropologists to respond a current move in epigenetics which nature and nurture are no longer understood as dichotomous elements. It argued neobiological reductionism currently taking shape due molecularization of the environment by epigeneticists. Anthropological concepts embodiment should be retheorized light this development. The formation discipline discussed, then habitual black-boxing post-Enlightenment material body noted. Five illustrative examples given recent epigenetic findings: impact maternal stress on fetal dysfunction, social deprivation changes, food molecularized epigenetics, aging toxins triggers. "Embedded bodies," "local biologies," "biosocial becomings" introduced enable insertion an anthropological perspective into emerging debate. A brief account historical trauma its ongoing effects experienced First Nations Inuit Canada conclusion. ethnographic accounts indispensable if findings avoid neoreductionism contribute policy changes improve human well-being.

Language: Английский

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Epigenetics and Trained Immunity

Antioxidants and Redox Signaling, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 29(11), P. 1023 - 1040

Published: Oct. 5, 2017

A growing body of clinical and experimental evidence has challenged the traditional understanding that only adaptive immune system can mount immunological memory. Recent findings describe characteristics innate system, underscored by its ability to remember antecedent foreign encounters respond in a nonspecific sensitized manner reinfection. This been termed trained immunity. Although beneficial context recurrent infections, this might actually contribute chronic immune-mediated diseases, such as atherosclerosis. Advances: In line with proposed role sustaining cellular memories, epigenetic reprogramming emerged critical determinant technological computational advances improve unbiased acquisition epigenomic profiles have significantly enhanced our appreciation for complexities chromatin architecture contexts diverse challenges.Key resolving distinct signatures memory is comprehensive precise physiological targets regulatory proteins recognize, deposit, remove chemical modifications from well other gene-regulating factors. Drawing rapidly expanding compendium studies, review details current perspective pathways support adapted phenotypes monocytes macrophages.We explore future strategies are aimed at exploiting mechanism immunity prevention treatment infections disorders.

Language: Английский

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Entangled lives: Implications of the developmental origins of health and disease hypothesis for bioarchaeology and the life course

American Journal of Physical Anthropology, Journal Year: 2015, Volume and Issue: 158(4), P. 530 - 540

Published: Aug. 26, 2015

ABSTRACT Epidemiological research since the 1980s has highlighted consequences of early life adversity, particularly during gestation and infancy, for adult health (the “Barker hypothesis”). The fast‐evolving field molecular epigenetics is providing explanatory mechanisms concerning phenotypic plasticity in response to developmental stressors accumulation disease risk throughout life. In addition, there now evidence heritability poor across generations via epigenetic modifications. This potential invoke a paradigmatic shift how we interpret factors such as growth insults immune past skeletal remains. It demonstrates that cannot be understood terms immediate environmental circumstances alone. Furthermore, it requires both theoretical practical re‐evaluation biographies course more generally. Individual courses can no longer regarded discrete, bounded, histories, with clearly defined beginning end points. If socioeconomic have intergenerational effects, including susceptibility stunting, then individual should viewed nested or “embedded” within lives others. commingling may prove problematic unravel; nevertheless, this review aims consider bioarchaeological interpretations. These include greater consideration of: temporal power human skeletons approach health; infant implications maternal well‐being; impact non‐proximate (e.g., ancestral environments) on presence indicators. Am J Phys Anthropol 158:530–540, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Language: Английский

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The social brain meets the reactive genome: neuroscience, epigenetics and the new social biology

Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, Journal Year: 2014, Volume and Issue: 8

Published: May 21, 2014

The rise of molecular epigenetics over the last few years promises to bring discourse about sociality and susceptibility environmental influences brain an entirely new level. Epigenetics deals with mechanisms such as gene expression, which may embed in organism "memories" social experiences exposures. These changes expression be transmitted across generations without DNA sequence. is most advanced example postgenomic context-dependent view that making its way into contemporary biology. In my article I will use current emergence link neuroscience research new, a unprecedented, After review important developments epigenetic research, some links neuroscience, second part reflect on novel challenges presents for sciences re-conceptualization between biological age. Although remains contested, hyped, often uncritical terrain, claim especially when conceptualized broader non-genecentric frameworks, it has genuine potential reformulate ossified biology/society debate.

Language: Английский

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Situating local biologies: Anthropological perspectives on environment/human entanglements

BioSocieties, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 13(4), P. 681 - 697

Published: April 5, 2018

Language: Английский

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Of rats and women: Narratives of motherhood in environmental epigenetics

BioSocieties, Journal Year: 2016, Volume and Issue: 12(1), P. 23 - 46

Published: Aug. 10, 2016

Language: Английский

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Epigenetic determinism in science and society

New Genetics and Society, Journal Year: 2015, Volume and Issue: 34(2), P. 177 - 195

Published: April 3, 2015

The epigenetic "revolution" in science cuts across many disciplines, and it is now one of the fastest-growing research areas biology. Increasingly, claims are made that epigenetics represents a move away from genetic determinism has been prominent both biological understandings impact biology on society. We discuss to what extent an framework actually supports these claims. show that, contrast received view, often couched language as deterministic genetics popular press. engage rapidly emerging conversation about public discourse scientific practice, we contend notion – or belief mechanisms determine expression human traits behaviors matters for influence society population health.

Language: Английский

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DNA methylation, early life environment, and health outcomes

Pediatric Research, Journal Year: 2015, Volume and Issue: 79(1-2), P. 212 - 219

Published: Oct. 14, 2015

Language: Английский

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The Palgrave Handbook of Biology and Society

Palgrave Macmillan UK eBooks, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Oct. 27, 2017

Language: Английский

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Epigenetics and Obesity

Body & Society, Journal Year: 2015, Volume and Issue: 22(4), P. 53 - 78

Published: June 30, 2015

Bourdieu suggested that the habitus contains ‘genetic information’ which both allows and disposes successive generations to reproduce world they inherit from their parents’ generation. While his writings on are concerned with embodied dispositions, biological processes not a feature of practical reason habitus. Recent critiques separate worlds biology culture, rise in epigenetics, provide new opportunities for expanding theoretical concepts like Using obesity science as case study we attempt conceptualise enfolding social (via Deleuzian metaphor) develop concept biohabitus – reconfiguring how environments interact across life course, may be transmitted transformed intergenerationally. In conclusion suggest reproduction articulated is useful frame can enhanced critically epigenetic understandings obesity, vice versa.

Language: Английский

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