Introduction: sketches of a conceptual history of epigenesis

Nicoglou, Antonine; Wolfe, Charles T.

doi:10.1007/s40656-018-0230-1

Cited by 13 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 27 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Aristotle is frequently represented as an early supporter of epigenesis (for example, Peck asserts in a footnote on p. 144 of Generation of animals that 'Aristotle was an epigeneticist'). Unfortunately, it is all too easy to attribute modern understanding to ancient authors, giving later meaning to their language that was not intended, nor even understood at the time; the meanings of the terms epigenesis and preformation have changed almost continuously ever since they were first used, and it is risky to recruit antique authors to modern arguments [39]. And in fact, Aristotle's position on the question of epigenesis or preformation is never clearly stated [40].…”

Section: Aristotle: Both Epigenesis and Preformationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cooking up the perfect insect: Aristotle's transformational idea about the complete metamorphosis of insects

Reynolds

2019

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Aristotle made important contributions to the study of developmental biology, including the complete metamorphosis of insects. One concept in particular, that of the perfect or complete state, underlies Aristotle's ideas about metamorphosis, the necessity of fertilization for embryonic development, and whether morphogenesis involves an autonomous process of self-assembly. Importantly, the philosopher erroneously views metamorphosis as a necessary developmental response to lack of previous fertilization of the female parent, a view that is intimately connected with his readiness to accept the idea of the spontaneous generation of life. Aristotle's work underpins that of the major seventeenth century students of metamorphosis, Harvey, Redi, Malpighi and Swammerdam, all of whom make frequent reference to Aristotle in their writings. Although both Aristotle and Harvey are often credited with inspiring the later prolonged debate between proponents of epigenesis and preformation, neither actually held firm views on the subject. Aristotle's idea of the perfect stage also underlies his proposal that the eggs of holometabolous insects hatch ‘before their time’, an idea that is the direct precursor of the much later proposals by Lubbock and Berlese that the larval stages of holometabolous insects are due to the ‘premature hatching’ from the egg of an imperfect embryonic stage. This article is part of the theme issue ‘The evolution of complete metamorphosis’.

show abstract

Section: Aristotle: Both Epigenesis and Preformationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cooking up the perfect insect: Aristotle's transformational idea about the complete metamorphosis of insects

Reynolds

2019

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…From the eighteenth century, "epigenesis was understood as the idea that there was no preestablished organization whereas, with preformationism, the parts were already determined." (Maienschein, 2017;Nicoglou & Wolfe, 2018). Brzozowski's text, An Epigenetic Theory of History (1907) 9 , analyzes technical and epistemic problems embodied deep within the philosophical notion of the historical "fact," which he presents in terms of the absolute, insoluble, and rationalizing claim: "it was so" [tak było] (Brzozowski, 1910a).…”

Section: From Epigenetics To Epiphylogenetics On the Work Of Artmentioning

confidence: 99%

The “Work” of Art: Stanisław Brzozowski and Bernard Stiegler

MRÓZ¹

2021

HSS

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This article relates the ideas of Stanisław Brzozowski (1878Brzozowski ( -1911 with those of Bernard Stiegler (1952Stiegler ( -2020, both of whom problematize the "work" of art understood as a labor practice. Through the conceptual analysis of epigenetics and epiphylogenetics for aesthetic theory, I claim that both thinkers develop practical concepts relevant to contemporary art philosophy. First, I present an overview of Brzozowski's aesthetics, for whom literature and the arts are linked with ethics, and aesthetic form is tied with moral judgment. Then, I continue with an outline of Stiegler's, for whom the role of artists is to sculpt a new culture and historical epoch called the Neganthropocene. Finally, the notion of "work" as a type of memory practice is analyzed. The comparison shows that Stiegler develops epigenetics phenomenologically via memory ("tertiary retentions") and phylogenetics to epiphylogenetics. Both philosophers argue against determinism. This study suggests that their key ideas advance and complement each other.

show abstract

“…Epigenetics is defined as the study of heritable changes in gene function without alteration of DNA sequence. 1,2 Epigenetic marks primarily include DNA methylation, histone marks, noncoding RNA (ncRNA), and chromatin remodeling. Many studies have linked epigenetic modifications to both short-term and long-term environmental exposures in plants and animals (recently reviewed in Cavalli and Heard 3 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Emerging Role of Ten-Eleven Translocation 1 in Epigenetic Responses to Environmental Exposures

Zhu

Brown

2020

Genet Epigenet

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Mounting evidence from epidemiological studies and animal models has linked exposures to environmental factors to changes in epigenetic markers, especially in DNA methylation. These epigenetic changes may lead to dysregulation of molecular processes and functions and mediate the impact of environmental exposures in complex diseases. However, detailed molecular events that result in epigenetic changes following exposures remain unclear. Here, we review the emerging evidence supporting a critical role of ten-eleven translocation 1 (TET1) in mediating these processes. Targeting TET1 and its associated pathways may have therapeutic potential in alleviating negative impacts of environmental exposures, preventing and treating exposure-related diseases.

show abstract

Introduction: sketches of a conceptual history of epigenesis

Cited by 13 publications

References 27 publications

Cooking up the perfect insect: Aristotle's transformational idea about the complete metamorphosis of insects

Cooking up the perfect insect: Aristotle's transformational idea about the complete metamorphosis of insects

The “Work” of Art: Stanisław Brzozowski and Bernard Stiegler

The Emerging Role of Ten-Eleven Translocation 1 in Epigenetic Responses to Environmental Exposures

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About