Mutations du mythe de l’ADN, étapes de matérialisation du gène

Abstract

In the last century, biology has established DNA as the material basis of heredity. This molecule is characterized by a dual temporality as a moulding of past environments and as a mould of organisms to come. We aim to give a brief description of the history of this substance as a scientific and cultural object, to point out key events of materialization along this trajectory but also more paradoxical moments of re-idealization. Human genomics now claim a form of exhaustivity in the characterization of the genetic material, reviving the notion of genetic determinism albeit in a more complex form. Interdisciplinary approaches are required to analyse the social and political consequences of this social intrusion of genomics via private GAFA-related biotech firms or public programmes in medicine and academic sociology and psychology.

Keywords

• materialism
• DNA
• genetic determinism
• symbol