Epigenetics: Ethics, politics, biosociality

Abstract

Background: Epigenetics is a burgeoning field of contemporary biosciences, which has attracted a lot of interest both in biomedical and in social sciences. Sources of data: Unsystematic literature analysis and retrospective mapping of highly cited work (source: Web of Science core collection) in the social sciences and humanities engaging with epigenetics. Areas of agreement: Epigenetics poses no new ethical issue over and above those discussed in relation to genetics. Areas of controversy: However, it encourages a different framing and reflexivity on some of the commonly held categories in the moral uptake of scientific discoveries. Growing points: Epigenetics presents us with normative questions that touch upon privacy, responsibility for individual health and for the wellbeing of future generations, as well as matters of health justice and equality of opportunities. Areas timely for developing research: Epigenetic thinking could help us adjust and refine the problem frames and categories that inform our ethical and political questions with a complex biosocial description of situations, of persons or actions.