Metaphors in search of a target: the curious case of epigenetics
Carrying out research in genetics and genomics and communicating about them would not be possible without metaphors such as "information," "code," "letter" or "book." Genetic and genomic metaphors have remained relatively stable for a long time but are now beg...
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| Format: | Article |
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Taylor & Francis
2015
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| Online Access: | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/31648/ |
| _version_ | 1848794244290969600 |
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| author | Stelmach, Aleksandra Nerlich, Brigitte |
| author_facet | Stelmach, Aleksandra Nerlich, Brigitte |
| author_sort | Stelmach, Aleksandra |
| building | Nottingham Research Data Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Carrying out research in genetics and genomics and communicating about them would not be possible without metaphors such as "information," "code," "letter" or "book." Genetic and genomic metaphors have remained relatively stable for a long time but are now beginning to shift in the context of synthetic biology and epigenetics. This article charts the emergence of metaphors in the context of epigenetics, first through collecting some examples of metaphors in scientific and popular writing and second through a systematic analysis of metaphors used in two UK broadsheets. Findings show that while source domains for metaphors can be identified, such as our knowledge of electrical switches or of bookmarks, it is difficult to pinpoint target domains for such metaphors. This may be indicative both of struggles over what epigenetics means for scientists (natural and social) and of difficulties associated with talking about this, as yet, young field in the popular press. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:13:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | nottingham-31648 |
| institution | University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:13:07Z |
| publishDate | 2015 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | nottingham-316482020-05-04T17:08:38Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/31648/ Metaphors in search of a target: the curious case of epigenetics Stelmach, Aleksandra Nerlich, Brigitte Carrying out research in genetics and genomics and communicating about them would not be possible without metaphors such as "information," "code," "letter" or "book." Genetic and genomic metaphors have remained relatively stable for a long time but are now beginning to shift in the context of synthetic biology and epigenetics. This article charts the emergence of metaphors in the context of epigenetics, first through collecting some examples of metaphors in scientific and popular writing and second through a systematic analysis of metaphors used in two UK broadsheets. Findings show that while source domains for metaphors can be identified, such as our knowledge of electrical switches or of bookmarks, it is difficult to pinpoint target domains for such metaphors. This may be indicative both of struggles over what epigenetics means for scientists (natural and social) and of difficulties associated with talking about this, as yet, young field in the popular press. Taylor & Francis 2015-05-12 Article PeerReviewed Stelmach, Aleksandra and Nerlich, Brigitte (2015) Metaphors in search of a target: the curious case of epigenetics. New Genetics and Society, 34 (2). pp. 106-218. ISSN 1469-9915 epigenetic metaphors media http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14636778.2015.1034849 doi:10.1080/14636778.2015.1034849 doi:10.1080/14636778.2015.1034849 |
| spellingShingle | epigenetic metaphors media Stelmach, Aleksandra Nerlich, Brigitte Metaphors in search of a target: the curious case of epigenetics |
| title | Metaphors in search of a target: the curious case of epigenetics |
| title_full | Metaphors in search of a target: the curious case of epigenetics |
| title_fullStr | Metaphors in search of a target: the curious case of epigenetics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Metaphors in search of a target: the curious case of epigenetics |
| title_short | Metaphors in search of a target: the curious case of epigenetics |
| title_sort | metaphors in search of a target: the curious case of epigenetics |
| topic | epigenetic metaphors media |
| url | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/31648/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/31648/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/31648/ |