I caught this program on epigenetics last night on my local PBS station. I thought it was pretty well done, and I actually like the supplementary material on the website even more. I do, however, have a couple of beefs with the program.
FIrst, I felt it assumed too much basic background information about genetics. My sense is that most people do not have a firm enough lay understanding of genetics to get a grasp on the newer term being used--genomics--let alone to understand what an intriguing turn epigenetics is in the scientific world.
That brings me to my second quibble: the title, "Ghost in Your Genes." I think skillful use of metaphors is key to translating science to the lay public. (In fact, I have a post in my drafts about the use of metaphors and framing in the public engagement of science.) I do not think "ghost" conjures up the proper image of what epigenetics is about. The word invokes un-naturalness, spookiness, stealth...something that needs to be exorcised or "ghost busted." I much more prefer the metaphor used in an article I mentioned briefly in a recent post of epigenetics citations:
The sequence of the four nucleotides of the genetic code is like an indelible ink that, with rare exceptions, is faithfully transcribed from cell to cell and from generation to generation. But on top of this code lies another one, literally “epigenetic,� which is represented by methyl groups added to the DNA base cytosine, as well as covalent changes in histone proteins around which the DNA is coiled. This epigenetic information is more like a code written in pencil in the margins around the DNA (Gosden, 2007, p. 731).
On the first point, I recognize that NOVA is generally intended for a lay audience that is at least already enthusiastic about science, and perhaps that possesses a firmer grasp on basic concepts. So maybe this particular program was not as hard to understand as I fear. On the second point--well, I think I am correct on the second point. I'll explore that in the other post I am working on.
In the meantime, the web has actually turned out to be a great resource for basic information on genetics. One of the best resources is by one of my favorite bloggers over at Eye on DNA. Plus there is still time [UPDATE: I think time's up, but keep checking the link for the chosen questions and his answers] to get your own questions about epigenetics in to Randy Jirtle, PhD, director of the Laboratory of Epigenetics and Imprinting at Duke University over here on the PBS site.
UPDATE: Some questions and answers from an older interview are up: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/genes/expert.html Jirtle's answers to questions submitted after this more recent program are due to be posted on the NOVA site next week.
Posted by: Yvette at October 24, 2007 06:43 AM