Daphne O. Martschenko and Sam Trejo both aspire to create a more just and equitable world. However, they hold differing views on the role of social genomicsâstudying genetic influences on behaviors such as mental health, education, and political tendenciesâin achieving these goals.
Martschenko argues that genetic research has predominantly served to reinforce existing social inequalities. She believes that solutions to many of our world's injustices, like alleviating poverty, are already known, rendering further genetic research unnecessary. Conversely, Trejo contends that having more information is generally advantageous. He suggests that while we cannot predict the outcomes of basic research, it is inevitable and should be directed towards positive ends.
In their book, What We Inherit: How New Technologies and Old Myths Are Shaping Our Genomic Future, the duoâs collaboration offers a unique perspective on genetic capabilities.
Their partnership, described as an 'adversarial collaboration,' brings together Trejo, a quantitative sociologist from Princeton, and Martschenko, a qualitative bioethicist from Stanford. Despite their different backgroundsâTrejo being from the East Coast and Martschenko from the West, as well as their contrasting racial identitiesâthey committed a decade to this project. While they maintain their individual stances, their ability to listen and comprehend each other's viewpoints stands out as a significant achievement in today's divided world.