Wojcik, G. L. (2025).
Nature, 641(8061), 37–38.
In 1924, motivated by the rising eugenics movement, the United States passed the Johnson–Reed Act, which limited immigration to stem “a stream of alien blood, with all its inherited misconceptions”. A century later, at a campaign event last October, now US President Donald Trump used similar eugenic language to justify his proposed immigration policies, stating that “we got a lot of bad genes in our country right now”.
If left unchallenged, a rising wave of white nationalism in many parts of the globe could threaten the progress that has been made in science — and broader society — towards a more equitable world1.
As scientists and members of the public, we must push back against this threat — by modifying approaches to genetics education, advocating for science, establishing and leading diverse research teams and ensuring that studies embrace and build on the insights obtained about human variation.
Here are some thoughts:
The article raises significant moral and ethical concerns regarding the renewed emergence of eugenic ideologies. It highlights how certain political figures and movements are reviving rhetoric that promotes the idea of genetic superiority, posing a profound moral threat by devaluing human diversity and encouraging discrimination.
A major ethical concern discussed is the misuse of genetic research to support racist or nationalist agendas, which not only distorts the true intentions of scientific inquiry but also risks eroding public trust in science itself. The article emphasizes that scientists have an ethical duty to ensure their work is not co-opted for harmful purposes and calls on them to take a public stand against these misrepresentations.
Furthermore, it underscores the importance of promoting diversity and inclusion within research, noting that race is a social construct rather than a strict biological reality. Ethically, inclusive research practices are necessary to ensure that scientific advances benefit all people, rather than reinforcing existing social inequalities. Overall, the article serves as a powerful call for the scientific community to uphold its ethical responsibilities by actively opposing the misuse of genetics, advocating for accurate public understanding, and fostering diversity in both research and society.
