News

Surrogacy goes more mainstream

By Carly Mallenbaum, Axios [cites Emily Galpern] | 03.29.2026

More Americans are turning to surrogacy to build their families, as the practice becomes more common and more publicly discussed.

Why it matters: As surrogacy becomes more visible and accessible, ethical, legal and cultural tensions become harder to ignore...

U.S. Federal

Eugenics and the Modern Synthesis, Part I

By Jessica Riskin, Los Ángeles Review of Books | 03.23.2026

This is the first part of the 14th installment in the Legacies of Eugenics series, which features essays by leading thinkers devoted to exploring the history of eugenics and the ways it shapes our present. The series is organized by...

Civil Society

Surrogacy laws are all over the map

By Carly Mallenbaum, Axios [cites Surrogacy360] | 03.29.2026

Without a federal law, surrogacy in the U.S. is governed by a patchwork of state regulations/

Why it matters: Confusing...

Policies

Project Eugenics: The Rollback of Disability Rights

By Kiana Jackson and Shannon Stubblefield, New Disabled South | 02.09.2026

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This report documents a deliberate assault on disabled people in...

U.S. States

Professor Osagie K. Obasogie’s ‘Legacies of Eugenics’ Project

By Gwyneth Shaw, Berkeley Law | 08.23.2024

In this episode, host Gwyneth Shaw talks to Professor Osagie K. Obasogie, a professor of law and bioethics and...

Human Genetic Modification

a graphic of a masked doctor opting for one gene over another

Breeding for IQ

By Emily R. Klancher Merchant, Los Angeles Review of Books | 08.22.2024

IN THE Operation Varsity Blues scandal of 2019, 50 wealthy parents were charged with trying to get their children into...

Genetic Selection

Beyond gene-edited babies: the possible paths for tinkering with human evolution

By Antonio Regalado, MIT Technology Review | 08.22.2024

In 2016, I attended a large meeting of journalists in Washington, DC. The keynote speaker was Jennifer Doudna, who just...

Genetic Selection

The Far Right Is Becoming Obsessed With Race and IQ

By Ali Breland, The Atlantic | 08.20.2024

“Joining us now is Steve Sailer, who I find to be incredibly interesting, and one of the most talented noticers...

Bioethics

Editing fetal genomes is on the horizon − a medical anthropologist explains why ethical discussions with the target communities should happen sooner rather than later

By Julia Brown, The Conversation | 08.16.2024

With their primary goal to advance scientific knowledge, most scientists are not trained or incentivized to think through the societal...

Human Genetic Modification

Vance’s ‘cat ladies’ remarks have dark historical legacy

By Jacob M. Apel, The Baltimore Sun | 08.16.2024

^{"J.D. Vance" by Gage Skidmore licensed under CC by S.A. 2.0}

Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio, the Republican...

Society

Donald Trump Relies on Eugenics Concepts, UT Prof Argues in New Book

By Neha Kondaveeti, The Austin Chronicle | 08.16.2024

^{"Donald Trump Signs The Pledge 11" by Michael Vadon licensed under CC by SA 4.0}

“They’re poisoning the...

U.S. Federal

Sperm donors are anonymous in Canada. Adult children are finding their roots anyway.

By Alison Motluk, Broadview | 08.15.2024

Canada has been slow to end anonymous paternity, but cheap and easy genetic testing makes staying unknown all but impossible. ...

Policies