The Clone as Gothic Trope in Contemporary Speculative Fiction

In February 1997, the concept of the clone, previously confined to the pages of fiction, became reality when Dolly the sheep was introduced to the world. The response to this was unprecedented, initiating a discourse on cloning that permeated a range of cultural forms, including literature, film and television. My thesis examines and evaluates this discourse through analysis of contemporary fiction, including Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go (2005), Stefan Brijs's The Angel Maker (2008), Duncan Jones's Moon (2009), and BBC America's current television series Orphan Black, which first aired in 2013. Such texts are placed in their cultural and historical setting, drawing comparisons between pre- and post-Dolly texts. The thesis traces the progression of the clone from an inhuman science fiction monster, to more of a tragic "human" creature. The clone has, however, retained its fictional portrayal as "other," be that double, copy or manufactured being, and the thesis argues that the clone is a Gothic trope for our times. The roots of the cloning discourse often lie in Gothic narratives, particularly Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1818), which is analysed as a canonical cloning text. Each chapter focuses on a source of fascination and fear within the cloning discourse: the influence of Gothic paternity on the figure of scientist; the notion of the clone as manufactured product, victim and monster; and the ethical and social implications of cloning. There is a dearth of critical analysis on the contemporary literary clone, with the most comprehensive study to date neither acknowledging the alignment of cloning and the Gothic nor demonstrating the impact of Dolly on fictional portrayals. My thesis addresses this, interweaving fiction, science and culture to present a monster which simultaneously embodies difference and sameness: a new monster for the twenty-first century

Not Trying: Reconceiving the Motherhood Mandate

Infertile and childless women think about, live with, and defend their status as mothers and as nonmothers, arguably more so than other women for whom motherhood comes about accidentally or relatively easily in accordance with a plan. Within this group of infertile and childless women are those who are otherwise socially marginalized by factors like class, race, age, marital status, and sexual identity. This dissertation asks about the ways in which marginalized infertile and childless women in America make sense of their situations given the climate of “stratified reproduction” in which the motherhood mandate excludes them or applies to them only obliquely. While other researchers focus on inequalities in access to treatment to explain why many marginalized women eschew medically assisted reproduction and adoption, I emphasize women’s resistance to these attempts at normalization. I take a critical, poststructural, feminist stance within a constructivist analytical framework to suggest that the medicalization, commodification, and bureaucratization of the most available alternative paths to motherhood create the role of the “infertile woman”—i.e., the white, middle class, heternormative, married, “desperate and damaged” cum savvy consumer. By contrast, the women who participated in this study are better described as the “ambivalent childless” (i.e., neither voluntary nor involuntary) and the “pragmatic infertile.” These women experience infertility and childlessness—two interrelated, potentially stigmatizing “roles”—in ways that belie this stereotype, reject the associated stigma in favor of an abiding, dynamic ambivalence, and re-assert themselves as fulfilled women in spite of their presumed deviance

An Investigation of the Diets of Infants Born in Ireland During the First Six Months of Life

Appropriate infant feeding practices play a crucial part in achieving optimal health outcomes. It is well established that the protection, promotion and support of exclusive breastfeeding during the first 6-months of life would decrease the health inequalities experienced by mothers and infants (WHO/UNICEF, 2003c). Optimal weaning practices also have significant implications for infant health, notably in relation to normal development, mineral balance and the development of obesity (Department of Health, 1994). Historically, Ireland has one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in Europe. Furthermore, prior Irish-based research indicates significant deficiencies relating to weaning practices among mothers during the first year of life. The present study was designed to investigate the diets of infants born in Ireland and assess compliance with infant feeding recommendations. This cross-sectional prospective study involved the recruitment of 561 pregnant women during the ante-natal period, with subsequent follow-up of mothers who bore term, healthy, singleton infants, at 6-weeks and 6-months post partum. The final sample that met the study criteria consisted of 401 national and 49 non-national mothers. Detailed information on breastfeeding initiation and prevalence rates among national and non-national mothers was elicited, using specific well-defined breastfeeding definitions. A subsequent analysis was undertaken to comprehensively identify the predictors of breastfeeding initiation and duration among national mothers, as well as the barriers that prevent them from attempting the practice. Data are also presented on the weaning practices of national mothers specifically pertaining to the time of weaning, as well as dietary and snacking patterns. A further in-depth analysis was performed to determine the factors associated with the occurrence of sub-optimal weaning practices. In summary, this study highlights significant deviations from current infant feeding recommendations. Importantly, 47.1% of national and 79.6% of non-national mothers initiated breastfeeding (p=0.000) indicating that little improvement has been achieved in terms of increasing breastfeeding rates over the former decade. Of further concern, high early discontinuation rates were observed among the national, compared with the non-national population of mothers, however, the exclusive breastfeeding rates remained low in both populations. In addition, a high prevalence of negative weaning practices was observed, including the finding that 23% of infants were prematurely weaned onto solids by 12-weeks. Mothers who weaned early were significantly more likely to carry out other sub-optimal feeding practices, suggesting that an overall deficiency in weaning information may exist among these mothers. This study provided a greater understanding of how infants are fed during the first 6-months of life in Ireland, adding to our paediatric knowledge base. To attenuate the health inequalities between lower and higher socio-economic groups in our society, results suggest that increased resources and more effective public health education should be apportioned to improve infants’ diets. As the early years represent a time win which disease prevention may be most effective (Campbell et al., 2008), there should be no delay in developing national strategies that encourage increased compliance with infant feeding recommendations at a population level

Centerscope

Centerscope, formerly Scope, was published by the Boston University Medical Center "to communicate the concern of the Medical Center for the development and maintenance of improved health care in contemporary society.

Molecular signatures of early life exposures and complex diseases : applications using epigenetics and transcriptomics data

Environmental exposures and early life stressors may influence developmental processes and have long-term health consequences, potentially mediated by molecular mechanisms such as epigenetic modifications. The most extensively studied epigenetic mechanism is DNA methylation, which has been proposed to constitute a link between genetic and environmental factors. Epigenetic patterns established early in life (already in utero) may affect how a gene is expressed throughout life, and thereby increase susceptibility to chronic disease. Other factors like genetics and repeated airway infections also influence disease risk. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complex disease considered a major global health problem, with tobacco smoking being one of the main risk factors. The role that deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) methylation might play in the pathogenesis of COPD has not been comprehensively studied. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells from the airways and alveolar space are considered key targets for COPD. Peanut allergy is another complex disease – one of the most common food allergies and the leading cause of anaphylaxis among children. Peanut oral immunotherapy (pOIT) can lead to desensitization and tolerance, and combined treatment with anti-immunoglobulin E (IgE) using omalizumab may facilitate oral immunotherapy initiation. The mechanisms of oral immunotherapy-induced tolerance, including possible changes at the transcriptional level, are not well understood. The main aim of this thesis was to identify molecular signatures of early-life exposures, chronic respiratory disease, as well as allergy treatment responses. In Study I, the association between gestational age and DNA methylation patterns (at 5´-cytosine-phosphate-guanine-3´ sites, CpGs, across the genome) was investigated in newborns and older children from the large The Pregnancy And Childhood Epigenetics (PACE) consortium meta-analysis, including 11,000 participants in 26 independent cohorts. Changes in DNA methylation associated with gestational age were explored in additional pediatric cohorts at 4–18 years. The functional follow-up and correlation analyses between DNA methylation and gene expression were performed using cord blood. In addition, we evaluated DNA methylation profiles in other relevant tissues (fetal brain and lung) related to gestational age. We found numerous epigenome-wide differentially methylated CpGs related to gestational age at birth. Notably, many of the identified CpGs had not previously been associated with gestational age. Several CpGs affected the expression of nearby genes, displayed a strong functional link with human diseases, and were enriched in biological processes essential for fetal development. The epigenetic plasticity of fetal development across tissues was captured by many methylation sites. However, the majority of methylation levels underwent changes over time and stabilized after school age. In Study II, the impact of outdoor exposure to particles of less than 2.5 micrometers in size (PM2.5) at birth and current residential address on gene expression was explored in childhood and adolescence in the MeDALL consortium encompassing three European birth cohorts. In addition, the functional molecular patterns of PM2.5 exposure were evaluated by integrating protein-protein interaction and genome-wide gene expression with matched DNA methylation. We found evidence suggestive of gene signatures in children and adolescents associated with PM2.5 exposure at birth. However, the integration of multi-omics profiles revealed several epigenetic deregulation gene module interactome hotspots where both methylation and expression levels were affected by PM2.5 exposure at birth and current address. Some of the identified genes were associated with diseases known to be caused by or worsened by air pollution exposure. In Study III, the pivotal role of DNA methylation profiles in BAL cells primarily macrophages was assessed in relation to COPD status and smoking in adults, to gain a further understanding of the disease pathogenesis. Several CpGs were associated with COPD in BAL cells, across the epigenome. Many of the identified CpGs displayed a strong functional link with gene expression and pathways enriched in cancer, various types of cell junctions, and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and Rap1 signaling. Notably, almost half of the CpGs co-located in the proximity of COPD-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms, which suggests that both genetic and epigenetic mechanisms are of importance at certain loci. In Study IV, the blood gene expression profiles before, during, and after pOIT and Omalizumab (O, an anti-IgE monoclonal antibody) treatment were evaluated in adolescent patients with severe peanut allergy using high-throughput ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequencing. At the first two timepoints, baseline and pOIT start, we investigated if there was an effect of omalizumab treatment on gene expression. In addition, a longitudinal analysis was performed to evaluate the combined effect of pOIT with Omalizumab (pOIT+O). We also evaluated the overlap of pOIT+O-associated genes with genes associated with acute peanut allergic reactions in a previously published clinical study by Watson et al1. First, we showed that the blood gene expression of patients with peanut allergy was not altered by omalizumab treatment alone. However, the combined effect of pOIT+O showed up- and downregulation of several genes involved in T-cell functions and immune responses. Furthermore, comparing our findings with genes previously found to be affected during acute peanut allergic reactions suggested that pOIT+O may play a role in altering the same genes (in the opposite direction). In conclusion, we demonstrated that DNA methylation profiles are related to gestational age at birth. The identified methylation sites were linked to human diseases and are likely to be involved in biological processes essential for fetal development. Most of the methylation sites also affect expression of nearby genes and reflect epigenetic plasticity of fetal development across tissues. We highlighted the added value of multi-omics analyses in relation to information on PM2.5 exposure that may enhance the understanding of molecular mechanisms and biological responses induced by air pollutants. Moreover, we revealed COPD-associated methylation changes in macrophage-dense BAL cells with a strong functional link to different pathways and gene expression. Both genetic and epigenetic mechanisms play important roles at certain loci. We also provided insights into the transcriptome profiles during pOIT and combined treatment with omalizumab

Experiences of Couples Having a Young Child with Cleft Lip and/or Palate, Comparing Prenatal and Postnatal Diagnosis Groups: A Phenomenological Study

This study was designed to describe the experiences of both mothers and fathers who are currently caring for an infant (12 months old) or young child (up to 4 years old) who was born with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P). The biopsychosocial approach, the Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment, and Adaptation, and transcendental phenomenology guided this study. A convenience sample consisted of 17 couples (10 prenatal and 7 postnatal) who previously volunteered for an ongoing longitudinal quantitative study at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia [PI: Dr. Canice E. Crerand, PhD (2008). Psychosocial adjustment in parents of infants with cleft lip and/or palate: The impact of prenatal versus postnatal diagnosis]. Couples completed a consent form, a demographic self-report survey, and the Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale and then participated in in-depth interviews. The timing of the CLP diagnosis, the birth, and the initial stages after birth were reported as the most challenging periods for both prenatal and postnatal couples, unless their children still had ongoing developmental delays. The initial stages immediately following the birth were reported as more stressful for the postnatal diagnosis group because they had no time to prepare. Course of treatment, feeding, and social stigma were reported as major sources of stress for all 17 couples. Findings suggest that, regardless of the timing of the diagnosis, couples could benefit from (1) health professional's calm demeanor when first delivering the CL/P diagnosis, because it affects how parents perceive the CL/P, which later determines how they cope and problem solve; (2) an initial information session with both parents at the time of the diagnosis; (3) peer support from other couples to reduce their feelings of isolation; (4) help from health professionals to alleviate any self-blame, especially for the mothers; and (5) help for couples who are more distressed at diagnosis and especially during the first year after birth, such as regular screening and referrals for couple-based interventions to promote secure attachment and better coping. Finally, future research should include more racially and economically diverse samples of couples to develop culturally sensitive intervention programs.Ph.D., Couple and Family Therapy -- Drexel University, 201

The Power of Multiplying: Reproductive Control in American Culture, 1850-1930

Prior to the advent of modern birth control beginning in the nineteenth century, the biological reproductive cycle of pregnancy, post-partum recovery, and nursing dominated women’s adult years. The average birth rate per woman in 1800 was just over seven, but by 1900, that rate had fallen to just under than three and a half. The question that this dissertation explores is what cultural narratives about reproduction and reproductive control emerge in the wake of this demographic shift. What’s at stake in a woman’s decision to reproduce, for herself, her family, her nation? How do women, and society, control birth? In order to explore these questions, this dissertation broadens the very term “birth control” from the technological and medical mechanisms by which women limit or prevent conception and birth to a conception of “controlling birth,” the societal and cultural processes that affect reproductive practices. This dissertation, then, constructs a cultural narrative of the process of controlling birth. Moving away from a focus on “negative birth control”—contraception, abortion, sterilization—the term “controlling birth” also applies to engineering or encouraging wanted or desired reproduction. While the chapters of this work often focus on traditional sites of birth control—contraceptives, abortion, and eugenics—they are not limited to those forms, uncovering previously hidden narratives of reproduction control. This new lens also reveals men’s investment in these reproductive practices. By focusing on a variety of cultural texts—advertisements, fictional novels, historical writings, medical texts, popular print, and film—this project aims to create a sense of how these cultural productions work together to construct narratives about sexuality, reproduction, and reproductive control. Relying heavily on a historicizing of these issues, my project shows how these texts—both fictional and nonfictional—create a rich and valid site from which to explore the development of narratives of sexuality and reproductive practices, as well as how these narratives connect to larger cultural narratives of race, class, and nation. The interdisciplinary nature of this inquiry highlights the interrelationship between the literary productions of the nineteenth and twentieth century and American cultural history