A few months ago, I briefly discussed the emerging field of behavioral epigenetics, when one of KSU’s job candidates and a cited author in last week’s Science review of behavioral epigenetics, presented data on DNA methylation, resulting from physical abuse, and serving as a predictor of suicide. While I support epigenetic research as it may provide more tangible treatments if not cures for banes of human existence, including cancer and Alzheimer’s and reduce the stigmatization of child, drug, and domestic abuse, I do agree that we can’t be too quick to jump to ResearchBlogging.orgconclusions; if we dissect the etymology of epigenetics with “epi” meaning outer (think of a tip of an iceberg) and “genetics” being more of a rhetorical element, even the translation means outer genetics or if we metaphorically compare epigenetics to an iceberg, environmental modulation of the genetic molecular machinery has roughly 10% of an influence with the other 90% attributed to gene and neuroendocrine interactions. Though this may be a crude analogy, certainly not one expressed in the The Seductive Allure of Behavioral Epigenetics, many interviewees in the Science review would agree.

But if you want to anyways….

Miller, G. (2010). The Seductive Allure of Behavioral Epigenetics Science, 329 (5987), 24-27 DOI: 10.1126/science.329.5987.24