Of Epistemes and Insects: How Drosophila and Butterflies Shape Our Understanding of Radiation Risk

Area of Science:

• Radiation Biology
• Genetics
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Animal studies are crucial for understanding radiation exposure effects.
• Extrapolation of animal data to human radiation effects faces scientific challenges.
• The historical dominance of Drosophila in radiation genetics research may introduce bias.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the complexities of extrapolating insect data to human nuclear exposure effects.
• To investigate the influence of model organism choice (Drosophila) on radiation genetics research.
• To examine the concept of human exceptionalism in radiation biology.

Main Methods:

• Genealogical analysis of Drosophila's dominance in radiation genetics.
• Examination of epistemic frameworks in radiation biology.
• Consideration of Michel Foucault's ideas on epistemes and human exceptionalism.

Main Results:

• The dominance of Drosophila created a framework that often dismissed contradictory evidence from other organisms, such as Lepidoptera.
• Human exceptionalism contributes to dismissing animal study findings due to perceived human resilience.
• Established frameworks of population resilience persist, influencing the interpretation of radiation biology evidence.

Conclusions:

• The choice of Drosophila as a dominant model organism may have created a "Drosophila bias" in radiation genetics.
• Contradictory findings, like those from Lepidoptera, challenge conventional understanding rather than being dismissed.
• Re-evaluating evidence frameworks is necessary to accurately assess radiation effects on humans.