Have we leapt into commercial genetic testing without understanding it?

Daphne O. Martschenko and Sam Trejo both aspire to create a more just and equitable society. Yet, they hold conflicting views on the role of social genomics in achieving this aim. Martschenko argues that genetic research often serves to reinforce existing social inequalities. She believes that many solutions to societal injustices—like alleviating poverty—are already known and do not require further genetic investigation. On the other hand, Trejo contends that having more information is generally advantageous. He emphasizes the unpredictable benefits that can arise from basic research, suggesting that since such studies are already underway, it is prudent to guide them toward positive outcomes rather than ignore them. Their contrasting perspectives are vividly explored in their collaborative work, "What We Inherit: How New Technologies and Old Myths Are Shaping Our Genomic Future." Trejo, a quantitative sociologist at Princeton, and Martschenko, a qualitative bioethicist at Stanford, spent a decade writing this book, engaging in what they describe as an 'adversarial collaboration.' Despite their differences, they have developed a mutual understanding, showcasing the importance of constructive dialogue in today's polarized environment.