Sebastian Schuol
PhD-Thesis
Consequences of an expanded gene-concept
An inquiry of the foundations of the “ethics of genetics” from the perspective of epigenetics
After the Human Genome Project the perspective on DNA as the carrier of genetic information has changed. While previously the supremacy of the base sequence seemed indubitable, subsequent post-genome projects have unravelled the crucial importance of the regulatory "cell machinery". Especially epigenetics points out an ecological dimension – it shows how gene regulative mechanisms are formed in interaction with the environment. As a novelty, this development regulating meta-information can be inherited transgenerational. Consequently the ontological unit of heredity – the gene – gets reformulated in this epigenetic context. A rethinking is taking shape.
Through the lens of epigenetics themes of the “ethics of genetics” appear in a new light. Strong arguments against the genetic determinism refute the genetic fatalism and points out new spaces of action. This in turn is related to a new class of responsibility. With the knowledge of the gene regulative effect of our lifestyle everyday activities comes close to biotechnologies. The ability to reprogram actively our gene regulation and to have direct access to our body confronts us with a new class of ethical problems. The central aim of this investigation is to clarify the complex relationship between action and accountability from the viewpoint of epigenetics. A special feature marks this issue. Due to the transgenerational inheritance of the gene regulation, the range of responsibility expands beyond the individual – this new form of "transgenerational responsibility” has to be examined closely.
Biography:
Study of Philosophy (Magister) and Molecular Genetics in Erlangen and Tübingen. 2008 EvE Award for evolutionary biology (Volkswagen Foundation). 2009 Magister at the Eberhard- Karls-University Tübingen with an investigation to the implications of epigenetics on the theory of evolution. Since September 2009 member of the DFG Research Training Group on Bioethics.