Will epigenetics ever be a biosocial science? A reply to Chiapperino and Paneni

Abstract

Abstract The recent correspondence article by Chiapperino and Paneni in Clinical Epigenetics correctly points to the inability of epigenetics to incorporate fine-grained mapping data of the individual’s surrounding milieu. The authors underline similar shortcomings of genomics. I argue that the tight link between DNA sequence and epigenetic marks is likely to reproduce those shortcomings in epigenetic studies. Moreover, biosocial epigenetics, if ever fully accomplished, would inevitably unmask genetics-based phenomena. The latter would be highly controversial from the viewpoint of dominant identity politics and social constructivism.

Keywords

• Epigenetics
• Genetics
• Disease
• Biosocial sciences