Paper short abstract:

Transgenerational epigenetics argues that environmentally induced epigenetic marks can be inherited across generations. This claim is highly contested within epigenetics. We trace researchers' self-conceptualizations and the intimate entanglements between being and knowing in this contested field.

Paper long abstract:

Epigenetics investigates changes in gene function that do not result from DNA mutations, but from chemical modifications upon the DNA. Epigenetic modifications can be influenced by multiple environmental factors, such as nutrition, toxins or social experiences such as stress, which thus can affect gene expression via epigenetic mechanisms. Recent studies focusing on 'transgenerational epigenetic inheritance' have investigated the hypothesis that acquired epigenetic marks could be passed on to subsequent generations. A number of labs in Europe and North America have argued for the existence of such inheritance effects based on rodent experiments. These claims, however, remain highly contested within epigenetics as such as they break with key paradigms of how inheritance has been conceptualized in modern biology.

Drawing on participant observations at conferences, literature analysis and interviews with researchers working on transgenerational epigenetic inheritance, we trace how researchers position themselves and their claims vis-à-vis 'main stream' epigenetics and biological understandings of inheritance more broadly. We particularly focus on the multiple affective dimensions related to the formation of what currently constitutes a 'field-within-a-field' and how researchers navigate membership in this contested community. We investigate different practices of self-conceptualization and presentation, such as assuming the roles of 'rebels', 'pure scientists', or 'diplomats', and hence intimate entanglements between being and knowing in this field. With this, we contribute to a better understanding of the affective dimensions of the formation of research fields and contested claims-making in science.