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Transactions on Computational Systems Biology XIII pp 131–170Cite as

Cultural Epigenetics: On the Heritability of Complex Diseases

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Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((TCSB,volume 6575))

Abstract

We extend a cognitive paradigm for gene expression based on the asymptotic limit theorems of information theory to the epigenetic epidemiology of complex developmental disorders in humans. In particular, we recognize the fundamental role culture plays in human biology, a heritage mechanism parallel to, and interacting with, the more familiar genetic and epigenetic systems. We do this via a model through which culture acts as another tunable epigenetic catalyst that both directs developmental trajectories, and becomes convoluted with individual ontology, via a mutually-interacting crosstalk mediated by a social interaction that is itself culturally driven. In sum, embedding culture is an essential component of the regulation of human development and its dysfunctions. The cultural and epigenetic systems of heritage may thus provide the ‘missing’ heritability of complex diseases that is currently the subject of much scientific discourse.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The New York State Psychiatric Institute, 549 W. 123 St., 16F, New York, NY, 10027

    Rodrick Wallace

  2. Consumers Union, United States

    Deborah Wallace

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  1. Rodrick Wallace
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  2. Deborah Wallace
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Computational and Systems Biology, The Microsoft Research - University of Trento, Piazza Manci, 17, 38050, Povo (TN), Italy

    Corrado Priami

  2. Department of Information Technologies, Åbo Akademi University, Joukahaisenkatu 3-5 A, FI-20520, Turku, Finland

    Ralph-Johan Back

  3. Department of Information Technologies, Åbo Akademi University, ICT Building, Joukahaisenkatu 3-5 A, 20520, Turku, Finland

    Ion Petre

  4. Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, Den Dolech 2, Eindhoven, The Netherlands

    Erik de Vink

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Wallace, R., Wallace, D. (2011). Cultural Epigenetics: On the Heritability of Complex Diseases. In: Priami, C., Back, RJ., Petre, I., de Vink, E. (eds) Transactions on Computational Systems Biology XIII. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 6575. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-19748-2_7

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