Abstract
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>Epigenetics refers to the inheritance of changes in gene function that cannot be explained by changes in the sequence of DNA bases. One such explanation is through appeal to the methylation of bases in the DNA sequence, which appears to alter gene expression and thus phenotype. These kinds of non‐sequence changes to phenotype make up the “epigenome.” The epigenome is understood to be the moderating factor in gene–environment interactions. As such, it is of interest to a number of social sciences since it not only offers promise for interdisciplinary work on complex illness and behavior but also represents a potential challenge to other explanatory frameworks. Arguments about the reductive nature of the epigenome and its contribution to the geneticization of health and illness are important to consider.</jats:p>