Share this
Article<\/p>\n
You are free to share this article under the Attribution 4.0 International license.<\/p>\n
What if a single number, derived from your DNA, could predict your income, education level, or even who you\u2019re likely to marry?<\/p>\n
In his new book The Social Genome<\/a> (WW Norton, 2025), Princeton University sociologist Dalton Conley<\/a> explores the science behind how our genes are shaping our society in ways that are both profound and unsettling.<\/p>\n Conley explains how our genes, and the genes of those around us, are influencing our lives<\/a> in ways we barely understand\u2014from fertility clinics selecting embryos based on genetic traits to the rise of \u201cgenetic sorting\u201d in everything from dating<\/a> to zip codes. He also debunks the idea of nature versus nurture, revealing how deeply intertwined they truly are.<\/p>\n Are we heading toward a future of genetically coded inequality? And what policies and conversations are urgently needed to ensure we don\u2019t cross the line from science into dystopia?<\/p>\n On this episode of the Big Brains podcast, Conley digs into how genetic science could forecast your future:<\/p>\n<\/p>\n