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Daphne O. Martschenko, PhD

@daphmarts.bsky.social
922 followers 196 following 72 posts

🧬Assistant Professor of Biomedical Ethics @ Stanford 📕Author of WHAT WE INHERIT (2026) 🐈 Mom to Sassy & 🙋🏾‍♀️ Mom to Théa 🧘🏾‍♀️Yogi in training daphnemartschenko.com

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Reposted by Daphne O. Martschenko, PhD
Roshni Patel @roshnipatel.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
I think this work really underscores that we are at a turning point in human genetics. There is a growing consensus that doing good research in human genetics requires an expanded skillset (including, e.g., one that can navigate the relationship between genetics, ancestry, and pop descriptors) (1/)
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Reposted by Daphne O. Martschenko, PhD
Jayati Sharma, PhD, ScM @jayatirsharma.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
In what has been a labor of love & joyful collaboration, we are super excited to share our preprint on recommendations towards the ethical and accurate use of population descriptors generated from a survey by trainees, for trainees. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
biorxiv.org
Recommendations for the ethical and accurate use of population descriptors: a trainee-led survey of early-career researchers
Despite the importance of population descriptors in human genomics research, many scientists struggle to translate evolving ethical guidelines into their computational workflows. To characterize this ...
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Reposted by Daphne O. Martschenko, PhD
Alondra Nelson @alondra.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
-Water used at power plants that supply electricity to data centers can be greater than the amount of water used in the data centers themselves. -" $170 billion of AI data-center capacity has been blocked, stalled or canceled since 2024" www.wsj.com/tech/ai/ai-d...
wsj.com
AI Data Centers Use Far More Water Than Most Tech Giants Report
Water used at the power plants that supply electricity to data centers can be much greater than the water used in the data centers themselves.
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Reposted by Daphne O. Martschenko, PhD
Behavior Genetics Association @behaviorgenetic.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
A highlight from yesterday: The public science committee organized a plenary symposium 'From data to discourse: Behavioral Genetics as a Public Science' chaired by @evangiangrande.bsky.social . During the symposium, we heard from:
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Behavior Genetics Association @behaviorgenetic.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
@daphmarts.bsky.social on the roles and responsibilities of academic and journalistic publishing in social & behavioral genomics, also part of our special issue: link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com
A Qualitative Study of the Roles and Responsibilities of Academic and Journalistic Publishing in Social and Behavioral Genomics - Behavior Genetics
The conduct and translation of scientific research is shaped by academic and journalistic publishing. Academic journals issue editorial guidelines and policies that inform how researchers shape and pr...
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Reposted by Daphne O. Martschenko, PhD
Princeton University Press @princetonupress.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
@thetls.bsky.social calls Sam Trejo and @daphmarts.bsky.social's What We Inherit: How New Technologies and Old Myths Are Shaping Our Genomic Future "fresh and exciting." Read the full review here (£):
the-tls.com
Altering the grammar of life
The technological and ethical challenges of editing the genome
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Reposted by Daphne O. Martschenko, PhD
ESSGN @essgn.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
Keynote: social responsibility in sociogenomics, with @daphmarts.bsky.social
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Princeton University Press @princetonupress.bsky.social · 04/04/2026
In What We Inherit, Sam Trejo and @daphmarts.bsky.social debate the use of genomic tools and their societal impact. Now available worldwide! Find it here: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco... #Biology #ReadUP
What We Inherit: How New Technologies and Old Myths Are Shaping Our Genomic Future by Sam Trejo and Daphne O. Martschenko
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Reposted by Daphne O. Martschenko, PhD
Princeton University Press @princetonupress.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
In What We Inherit, Sam Trejo and @daphmarts.bsky.social offer different perspectives on the use of genomic tools and their societal impact. What We Inherit is out now (31 Mar UK pub)! Explore a free preview: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco... #Biology #ReadUP
What We Inherit: How New Technologies and Old Myths Are Shaping Our Genomic Future by Sam Trejo and Daphne O. Martschenko. Debating the use of genomic tools and their societal impact.
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Daphne O. Martschenko, PhD @daphmarts.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
I had so much fun talking with Cara Santa Maria on Talk Nerdy about #WhatWeInherit It was a blast: overcast.fm/+AAiccBPQKlw
overcast.fm
Social Genomics w/ Daphne O. Martschenko — Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Bioethicist and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Stanford University, Dr. Daphne O. Martschenko. They discuss her book, What We Inherit: How New Te...
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Reposted by Daphne O. Martschenko, PhD
Princeton University Press @princetonupress.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
Read an excerpt of What We Inherit: How New Technologies and Old Myths Are Shaping Our Genomic by Sam Trejo and @daphmarts.bsky.social in @livescience.com:
livescience.com
Emerging embryo-selection technologies are currently 'little more than snake oil.' But someday, they could widen social inequities.
In the book "What We Inherit," experts unpack long-standing myths about genes and how those myths could shape public opinion around emerging embryo-selection technologies.
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Reposted by Daphne O. Martschenko, PhD
Princeton University Press @princetonupress.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
Sam Trejo and @daphmarts.bsky.social, authors of What We Inherit: How New Technologies and Old Myths Are Shaping Our Genomic Future, write for @livescience.com about new reproductive technologies and the importance of regulation:
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Reposted by Daphne O. Martschenko, PhD
Princeton University Press @princetonupress.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
Read this @livescience.com interview with Sam Trejo and @daphmarts.bsky.social, authors of What We Inherit: How New Technologies and Old Myths Are Shaping Our Genomic Future
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Reposted by Daphne O. Martschenko, PhD
Carole V. Bell @cvbell.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
Sociologist Dorothy Roberts dug into her father’s life’s work to write a new work of her own and unlocked family history along the way. Did Her White Father Marry Her Black Mother for Love, or for Research? (gift link). www.nytimes.com/2026/02/23/b...
nytimes.com
Did Her White Father Marry Her Black Mother for Love, or for Research?
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Daphne O. Martschenko, PhD @daphmarts.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
#Introduction: Bioethicist. Adversarial Collaborator (the friendly kind). Writer. Mother to a tiny human and cat. I study: the ethics of genomic technologies. Book: WHAT WE INHERIT (2026) tinyurl.com/4m2uu7xu Website: daphnemartschenko.com
tinyurl.com
What We Inherit
Debating the use of genomic tools and their societal impact
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Daphne O. Martschenko, PhD @daphmarts.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
We also published an accompanying op-ed on PGT-P (polygenic embryo selection). You can check it out here! We are in the Wild West when it comes to these technologies.
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Daphne O. Martschenko, PhD @daphmarts.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
Sam and I sat down with Nicoletta Lanese at @livescience.com to discuss our book, What We Inherit, and emerging genomic technologies
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Daphne O. Martschenko, PhD @daphmarts.bsky.social · 22/02/2026
arstechnica.com/science/2026... "In What We Inherit: How New Technologies and Old Myths Are Shaping Our Genomic Future, we get to see how their collaboration can shed light on our rapidly advancing genetic capabilities."
arstechnica.com
Have we leapt into commercial genetic testing without understanding it?
A new book argues that tests might reshape human diversity even if they don't work.
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Daphne O. Martschenko, PhD @daphmarts.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
"...readers who likely feel more attuned to one of the authors’ views at the start of the book will come to appreciate the other side as they learn more about polygenic scores, social genomics, and their influence on genetic myths." undark.org/2026/02/20/b...
undark.org
Book Review: The Societal Impact of Genetic Research
In “What We Inherit,” Sam Trejo and Daphne O. Martschenko examine the link between genetic myths and social genomics.
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Reposted by Daphne O. Martschenko, PhD
Holly Fernandez Lynch @hollylynchez.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
Lots to unpack about the 1 pivotal trial default. www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.... For now a few points: 1. FDA is not legally permitted to set policy by journal article. This must stop. 2. This is not likely to give industry much stability. FDA can decide any time that the default doesn't apply. 1/
nejm.org
One Pivotal Trial, the New Default Option for FDA Approval — Ending the Two-Trial Dogma | NEJM
This Sounding Board announces a new FDA policy that the default requirement for FDA approvals will be one robust pivotal trial plus confirmatory evidence, rather than two trials.
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Reposted by Daphne O. Martschenko, PhD
Gen Wojcik @genandgenes.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
Genetic determinism, white nationalism, eugenics, pronatalism, and tiger parenting souped up on bath salts.
media.tenor.com
a man says " this place has everything " while holding something in his hand
Alt: Stefan on SNL weekend update says "this place has everything".
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Reposted by Daphne O. Martschenko, PhD
PGC Africa @pgc-africa.bsky.social · 13/02/2026
🚨 PGC Africa Monthly Meeting Alert! We are delighted to have Dr @daphmarts.bsky.social from Stanford Centre for Biomedical Ethics joining us for our first monthly meeting of 2026 🎉 📆 26/Feb/2026 🕰️ 2PM GMT/3PM WAT/4PM SAST/5PM EAT/9AM EST Details in the flyer below #PGCAfrica
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Daphne O. Martschenko, PhD @daphmarts.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
A great day yesterday now that #WhatWeInherit is out in the world! So thankful for all the support!
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Reposted by Daphne O. Martschenko, PhD
Princeton University Press @princetonupress.bsky.social · 03/02/2026
In What We Inherit, Sam Trejo and @daphmarts.bsky.social debate the use of genomic tools and their societal impact. Now available (31 March UK pub). Learn more about this fascinating book: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco... #Biology #ReadUP
What We Inherit: How New Technologies and Old Myths Are Shaping Our Genomic Future by Sam Trejo and Daphne O. Martschenko
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Reposted by Daphne O. Martschenko, PhD
Princeton University Press @princetonupress.bsky.social · 21/01/2026
In What We Inherit, Sam Trejo and @daphmarts.bsky.social offer different perspectives on the societal impact of the rapidly unfolding DNA revolution. Available February 3 (31 March UK pub). Learn more: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco... #Biology #Science #ReadUP
What We Inherit: How New Technologies and Old Myths Are Shaping Our Genomic Future by Sam Trejo and Daphne O. Martschenko
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Reposted by Daphne O. Martschenko, PhD
Daphne O. Martschenko, PhD @daphmarts.bsky.social · 09/01/2026
Less than a month before my debut book "What We Inherit" gets released! You can place pre-orders now: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco... Lucky to have gotten to collaborate (and argue) with Sam Trejo for the last 5+ years on this.
press.princeton.edu
What We Inherit
Debating the use of genomic tools and their societal impact
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Reposted by Daphne O. Martschenko, PhD
The Hastings Center for Bioethics @hastingscenter.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
🆕 New Hastings Bioethics Forum essay by @daphmarts.bsky.social & @juliaehbrown.bsky.social : As #fertility fears rise, #pronatalism pushes for more children—and increasingly, “better” ones...Genetic tools like polygenic embryo selection, raise serious ethical concerns. 👉 bit.ly/3YF5UdM
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Reposted by Daphne O. Martschenko, PhD
Susan Gilbert @susangilb.bsky.social · 15/01/2026
The reproductive technologies that are being promoted by the tech-elite #pronatalists are new. The push to have as many babies as possible—and the best babies—is not. @daphmarts.bsky.social and @juliaehbrown.bsky.social explain in Hastings Bioethics Forum. www.thehastingscenter.org/more-and-bet...
thehastingscenter.org
More and “Better” Babies: The Dark Side of the Pronatalist Movement : The Hastings Center for Bioethics
There is growing concern that falling fertility rates will lead to economic and demographic catastrophe. The social and political movement known as
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Daphne O. Martschenko, PhD @daphmarts.bsky.social · 15/01/2026
www.thehastingscenter.org/more-and-bet... New piece out with my dear friend @juliaehbrown.bsky.social
thehastingscenter.org
More and “Better” Babies: The Dark Side of the Pronatalist Movement : The Hastings Center for Bioethics
There is growing concern that falling fertility rates will lead to economic and demographic catastrophe. The social and political movement known as
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Daphne O. Martschenko, PhD @daphmarts.bsky.social · 09/01/2026
Less than a month before my debut book "What We Inherit" gets released! You can place pre-orders now: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco... Lucky to have gotten to collaborate (and argue) with Sam Trejo for the last 5+ years on this.
press.princeton.edu
What We Inherit
Debating the use of genomic tools and their societal impact
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Reposted by Daphne O. Martschenko, PhD
American Journal of Sociology @amjsoc.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
How do Black and White Americans assess the legitimacy of another person’s racial self-identification? Using a series of survey experiments, authors @marissathompson.bsky.social, Sam Trejo, @ajalvero.bsky.social, and @daphmarts.bsky.social illustrate the characteristics that drive racial conceptions
journals.uchicago.edu
Policing the Boundaries of Blackness: How Black and White Americans Evaluate Racial Self-Identifications | American Journal of Sociology: Vol 0, No ja
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Reposted by Daphne O. Martschenko, PhD
Princeton University Press @princetonupress.bsky.social · 21/11/2025
@publisherswkly.bsky.social calls Sam Trejo and @daphmarts.bsky.social's What We Inherit: How New Technologies and Old Myths Are Shaping Our Genomic Future "well-researched and nuanced." Read the full review here:
publishersweekly.com
What We Inherit: How New Technologies and Old Myths Are Shaping Our Genomic Future by Sam Trejo, Daphne O Martschenko
This accessible exploration from Trejo, a sociology professor at Princeton, and Martschenko, a biomedical ethics professor at St...
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Reposted by Daphne O. Martschenko, PhD
Alondra Nelson @alondra.bsky.social · 13/05/2025
"For me, the answer now lies in refusal, the withdrawal of participation from systems that require dishonesty as the price of belonging." Today I am resigning from the National Science Board and the Library of Congress Scholars Council. I wrote about my decision in TIME. time.com/7285045/resi...
time.com
Why I’m Resigning from the NSF and Library of Congress
I cannot participate in systems that require dishonesty as the price of belonging.
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Daphne O. Martschenko, PhD @daphmarts.bsky.social · 03/03/2025
stanforddaily.com/2025/03/03/f... Outstanding piece by Stanford colleague Dr Elliott White Jr
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Daphne O. Martschenko, PhD @daphmarts.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
New research article with Lucas Matthews, Maya Sabatello, and Colby Lewis “Intersectionality in a Sociogenomic World: How do Race, Disability, Socioeconomic Status, and Polygenic Prediction Interact to Impact Perceptions of Educational Trajectories?”: www.gimjournal.org/article/S109...
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Daphne O. Martschenko, PhD @daphmarts.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
One month into my visiting term @ox.ac.uk. The weather has been better than expected, and my prior perception of London as a city with a bad food scene is slowly changing. What a beautiful place to work!!
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Daphne O. Martschenko, PhD @daphmarts.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
It was my pleasure and a great conversation!
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Daphne O. Martschenko, PhD @daphmarts.bsky.social · 09/01/2025
Our paper outlining the design and implementation of ClinGen's action plan for JEDI is out now in the American Journal of Human Genetics: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
sciencedirect.com
Design and implementation of an action plan for justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion within the Clinical Genome Resource
How might members of a large, multi-institutional research and resource consortium foster justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion as central to its …
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Daphne O. Martschenko, PhD @daphmarts.bsky.social · 02/01/2025
Have a little new piece in @NatureHumBehav: "Ethics of genomic research on occupational status" www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
Ethics of genomic research on occupational status - Nature Human Behaviour
Genomic studies of social outcomes raise ethical considerations that heighten researcher obligations to responsibly conduct and communicate their work. A study by Akimova et al. finds that most interg...
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Daphne O. Martschenko, PhD @daphmarts.bsky.social · 24/11/2024
New Op-Ed with colleague and friend Julia Brown (UCSF): sfstandard.com/opinion/2024...
sfstandard.com
Opinion | Silicon Valley’s tech elite want to make superbabies. Their kids may suffer for it
The latest fertility tech invites parents to select baby traits like shopping at Whole Foods.
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Reposted by Daphne O. Martschenko, PhD
Krystal Tsosie @kstsosie.bsky.social · 25/11/2024
PLEASE AMPLIFY: We will host our Summer 2025 workshop on #Indigenous #Health & Artificial Intelligence to take place on the lands of the Ak-Chin Maricopa Indian Community in AZ week of June 2-6: indigidata.org Travel & Lodging 100% Covered Deadline to apply: January 31st #AI
Desert background in strong purple and pink color tones. Event details (listed in post) superimposed in foreground.
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Daphne O. Martschenko, PhD @daphmarts.bsky.social · 25/11/2024
www.nature.com/articles/s41... "In silico simulations using biobank resources show that the selected embryo would rely substantially on the choice of polygenic score method and randomness in score construction, which raises ethical concerns."
nature.com
Inconsistent embryo selection across polygenic score methods - Nature Human Behaviour
Private enterprises offer preimplantation genetic testing with polygenic scores to select embryos with ‘desirable’ potential. In silico simulations using biobank resources show that the selected embry...
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Daphne O. Martschenko, PhD @daphmarts.bsky.social · 24/11/2024
New Op-Ed with colleague and friend Julia Brown (UCSF): sfstandard.com/opinion/2024...
sfstandard.com
Opinion | Silicon Valley’s tech elite want to make superbabies. Their kids may suffer for it
The latest fertility tech invites parents to select baby traits like shopping at Whole Foods.
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Reposted by Daphne O. Martschenko, PhD
Daniel S. Goldberg @profgoldberg.bsky.social · 18/11/2024
I have the privilege of giving Pediatric Ethics Grand Rounds tomorrow @ 12 noon Mountain time. The title of the presentation is "Disability-Conscious Bioethics: What Other Kind Is There?" us06web.zoom.us/j/86948171688 It's remote and open, so feel free to join us! cc @cobioethics.bsky.social
flyer for Children's Hospital Colorado Pediatric Ethics Grand Rounds with picture of me and description. Learning objectives are: 

Apply the social model of disability to pediatric ethics contexts.
Compare disability-related ethical challenges at both clinical and population levels.
Identify key components of disability-conscious bioethics in pediatric care.
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Daphne O. Martschenko, PhD @daphmarts.bsky.social · 15/10/2024
New OpEd in the Hastings Center Bioethics Forum -- my commentary on the Trump campaign's discussion of "genes": www.thehastingscenter.org/the-alarming...
thehastingscenter.org
The Alarming History Behind Trump’s “Bad Genes” Comments
In a recent interview with conservative radio talk show host Hugh Hewitt, Donald Trump drew a link between immigration, violent crime, and genetics,
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Daphne O. Martschenko, PhD @daphmarts.bsky.social · 15/10/2024
Join ClinGen for forum on Nov 4th titled "Ethics & Inclusivity in Genetics Education: Challenges and Paths Forward." Among other things, I'll talk about awesome work by @roshnipatel.bsky.social, @raungar.bsky.social & team educating genetics trainees in ethics: clinicalgenome.org/tools/ancest...
clinicalgenome.org
Ethics & Inclusivity in Genetics Education: Challenges and Paths Forward - ClinGen | Clinical Genome Resource
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Daphne O. Martschenko, PhD @daphmarts.bsky.social · 08/10/2024
"Incorporating multiracial and multiethnic experiences into genetic counseling practice and research: A necessary opportunity": New paper with Stanford Bioethics' current T32 fellow Chenery Lowe & genetic counselor Justin Gomez-Stafford: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Incorporating multiracial and multiethnic experiences into genetic counseling practice and research: A necessary opportunity
The conflation of race and genetic ancestry can have harmful consequences. Biological conceptualizations of race have long been used to justify inequities and distract from social structures that aff....
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Reposted by Daphne O. Martschenko, PhD
kc kc kc (ichabod was my great-great-uncle) @katecrane.bsky.social · 25/09/2024
“At last… Another’s heartbeat” by Marcellus Williams

The silhouettes of their bond visible still at the last glow of the sun
They experience each other in the life of the night, as it begins to stir
Standing there in silence holding hands
no rush to go back inside
There is so much beauty and comfort in being in love and just being…
—almost sounds of buzzing
chirps 
crickets
The pleasant but irregular blowing of the wind
fireflies dancing in step with the light of the moon how strange it is to become aware of another’s heartbeat but forget one’s own – 
finally love.
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Roxane Gay @roxanegay.bsky.social · 24/09/2024
My heart aches for Marcellus Williams. This bitter injustice is just so unconscionable.
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Daphne O. Martschenko, PhD @daphmarts.bsky.social · 24/09/2024
Cell Press's 5th Annual Rising Black Scientists Awards, to learn more and apply: www.cell.com/diversity/aw...
cell.com
Rising Black scientists awards: Cell Press
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