ESP Biography

Can memories reside in our DNA? Blending biology and literature, this interdisciplinary class will introduce the science of epigenetics—how life experiences can shape gene expression across generations—and pair it with an examination of Toni Morrison’s Beloved, a novel that gives poignant form to the idea of the body as a reservoir of trauma. Through discussion, lectures, and close readings, we will investigate genetic and narrative modalities of inheritance, asking how memories are encoded in both cells and stories. Along the way, we will also consider broader questions about what scientists and humanists stand to gain by reaching across disciplines and how combining molecular biology with literary studies can paint a fuller picture of the human experience.