Epigenetic Landscapes: Drawings as Metaphor

Placeholder author icon
By Susan Merrill Squier ’72

Published Nov. 30, 2017

The epigenetic landscape is a metaphor for how gene regulation modulates cellular development. It fell out of favor in the 1960s but is now in use again in big-data genomic research. Epigenetic Landscapes (Duke University Press) follows the model’s cultural trail, from its first depiction by artist John Piper to its use in landscape architecture and bioArt.

Paw in print

Image
The February 2026 cover of PAW, featuring a photo of Joseph Nye.
The Latest Issue

February 2026

Lives Lived & Lost in 2025, Saying ’yes’ to more housing; AI startup stars