Carrying out research in genetics and genomics and communicating about them would not be possible without metaphors such as “information,” “code,” “letter” or “book.” Genetic and genomic metaphors have remained relatively stable for a long time but are now beginning to shift in the context of synthetic biology and epigenetics. This article charts the emergence of metaphors in the context of epigenetics, first through collecting some examples of metaphors in scientific and popular writing and second through a systematic analysis of metaphors used in two UK broadsheets. Findings show that while source domains for metaphors can be identified, such as our knowledge of electrical switches or of bookmarks, it is difficult to pinpoint target domains for such metaphors. This may be indicative both of struggles over what epigenetics means for scientists (natural and social) and of difficulties associated with talking about this, as yet, young field in the popular press.

Environmental epigenetics has attracted attention in the media owing to its potential for informing public health policies. It is therefore important to take its societal implications into consideration by cooperating with researchers in the social sciences and humanities.

Gene drive is a controversial biotechnology for pest control. Despite a commitment from gene drive researchers to responsibility and the key role of the media in debates about science and technology, little research has been conducted on media reporting of gene drive. We employ metaphor and discourse analysis to explore how responsibility is reflected in the coverage of this technology in the U.S., U.K., and Australian press. The findings reveal a rhetorical strategy of trust-building by evoking the moral attributes of gene drive researchers. We discuss the implications of these findings for the communication of new technologies.

Introduction. Increasingly, studies relating to the consequences of chronic neurological diseases depart from the principle of exclusively biological evaluation of human health and a more holistic point of view is adopted, in which particural attention is drawn to the emotional experience of patients, their well-being and ability to function in daily life. Aim. This work aims at analysing the factors determining the assessment of the quality of life made by patients who have had a stroke. Materials and Methods. The study group consisted of 95 post-stroke patients. The research was carried out by means of: Ferrans & Powers Quality of Life Index -version III, evaluating the overall quality of life and the quality of life in terms of health and functional, socio-economic, psycho-spiritual as well as family aspects. The study also included the Acceptance of Ilness Scale (AIS) and Functional Indicator "Repty". Results. The studies showed significant (p=0.006) differences in the level of acceptance of the disease by respondents with different degrees of functional capacity. As a necessary condition for fulfillment in life, 91.6% of respondents indicated the possibility of work continuing. For 84.20% of respondents good relationships with children were necessary for their fulfilment in life. 80% of the study population included health as an element of basic welfare. For 78.90% of respondents hapiness of their families was necessary to achieve their own happiness, and approximately three-quarters of respondents considered religious practices to be very important for their self-fulfilment (75.80%), health of immediate family (75.80%) and getting rid of chronic pain (74.70%). Conclusions. 1) The ability to function independently favours the acceptance of the consequences of stroke. 2) The biggest problem with adjusting to the new reality of living with the disease referred to those respondents who were independent but in some activities had to rely on the assistance from others. 3) More than ninety per cent of respondents as a prerequisite for fulfillment in life pointed to the possibility to continue working. 4) The quality of life perceived is drastically reduced in patients who had a stroke within the period ranging from three months to a year before participation in the study. 5) The reduced sense of well-being of the respondents was mostly affected by the negative impact of the growing problems in performing basic activities of daily life, particularly in terms of health and functioning. 6) The functional capacity limited after the stroke and the problems with the acceptance of the disease do not disturb, according to patients' assessment, family relationships. (JNNN 2016;5(4):136-143) Key Words: stroke, quality of life, functional capacity, acceptance of the disease Streszczenie Wstęp. Coraz częściej w badaniach dotyczących konsekwencji przewlekłych chorób neurologicznych odchodzi się od zasady wyłącznie biologicznego oceniania zdrowia człowieka, a przyjmuje się bardziej holistyczny punkt widzenia, w którym szczególn...

Epigenetics is a multifaceted field within genetics and genomics which focuses on discovering mechanisms involved in gene expression and regulation. It came to public attention around the turn of the millennium when the human genome began to be deciphered. Initial findings from epigenetics research held the promise of changing how we think about health and illness, evolution and heredity; speculations about how individuals and populations could begin to control such processes through epigenetics were then picked up in the public realm. In this article we concentrate on two normally distant domains within the public sphere: the advertising of alternative health products and services, and the promotion of alternative approaches to social science, especially around how social science deals with the ‘biosocial’. Using insights from social representations theory and methods aligned with metaphor analysis, we investigate the meanings of epigenetics rooted in the use of metaphors and commonplaces that are circulating in current popular parlance and that are used to promote academic theories and ideas as well as tangible products and services. We compare and contrast them and assess their implications for collaborations between natural and social scientists. Our findings reveal some surprising similarities between the metaphors and commonplaces used by advertisers and social scientists, based in large part on the fact that both groups draw on the work of prominent epigeneticists. In both instances some fundamental tenets of mainstream biology are contested, and hopes are created for improving individual or population well-being through the manipulation of epigenetic mechanisms. Both domains share some misunderstandings of epigenetics that might lead to problems with interdisciplinary collaborations between social and natural scientists.