Descripción del proyecto
Repercusiones éticas de la epigenética en los trastornos del desarrollo neurológico
Descubrimientos recientes en el campo de la epigenética señalan la influencia del entorno social y físico en la función de los genes. La epigenética ofrece una perspectiva novedosa sobre los conceptos de innato o adquirido, genético o ambiental y biológico o psicosocial, así como una visión más compleja de los trastornos del desarrollo neurológico. El proyecto financiado con fondos europeos NEUROEPIGENETHICS investigará las repercusiones éticas de conceptos dinámicos de la biología en las enfermedades del desarrollo neurológico. Los investigadores emplearán métodos teóricos y experimentales para analizar la forma en la que personas con trastorno del espectro autista, síndrome de Tourette y trastorno por déficit de atención con hiperactividad interactúan con su entorno biológico y social. El objetivo principal es definir aspectos de responsabilidad moral en el ámbito de los trastornos del desarrollo neurológico y la práctica psiquiátrica infantil.
Objetivo
In folk psychology and in bioethical discussions, the central dogma of genetics is often taken for granted: humans are seen as defined in a genetic blueprint. The conceptualization of psychiatric conditions as innate or acquired, biological or psychosocial, genetic or environmental, influences the ascription of both capacity responsibility (the capacity to adapt or adjust one’s own behavior) and normative responsibility of individuals or the society towards those diagnosed. But findings in the field of epigenetics indicate that the social and physical environment influence how genes are expressed. Indeed, epigenetics may shed a new light on distinctions such as innate/acquired, genetic/environmental, biological/psychosocial: a far more complex view on neurodevelopmental disorders may emerge, with ethical implications. However, the implications of epigenetics for discussions on the scope and extent of normative responsibility have not been adequately addressed.
NEUROEPIGENETHICS aims to investigate the ethical implications of epigenetics for neurodevelopmental disorders. We will use theoretical and empirical methods to investigate how certain concepts (innate/biological/genetic) affect the ways in which professionals and stakeholders (persons with a neurodevelopmental disorder and their families) conceive of responsibility. We will evaluate how the emerging field of epigenetics alters the ascription of capacity responsibility and normative responsibility. We will research how individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Tourette Syndrome (TS) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)and their families experience the interaction between their condition and their biological and social environment. Finally, we will define moral responsibility in light of the emerging field of epigenetics in the area of neurodevelopmental disorders and child psychiatric practice.
Ámbito científico
Palabras clave
Programa(s)
Régimen de financiación
ERC-STG - Starting GrantInstitución de acogida
2000 Antwerpen
Bélgica