Dr. Daniel Navon - UC San Diego
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When
Noon – 1:15 p.m., Jan. 30, 2026
Where
Social Sciences 415
Our Uncertain Eugenics: Sociology in an Age of Mass Reproductive Genetics
Early twentieth century sociology was intensely (and mostly shamefully) interested in eugenics. While that might seem like part of a mercifully distant past, this talk argues that the rise of mass reproductive genetics warrants renewed sociological engagement with the question of eugenics. I propose the concept of “secondary eugenics” to theorize how individual-level utilization of genetics technologies may aggregate into population-level effects, even in the absence of eugenic intent. As a case study, I analyze the rollout of non-invasive prenatal genetic screening (NIPT) in the US. NIPT has seen unprecedented numbers of fetuses screened for rare conditions that are cumulatively common and widely underdiagnosed—a development with sweeping implications for both expectant parents and populations affected by genetic disorders. Yet, even as individuals and families make intensely personal decisions about how to use these technologies, their adoption and population-level effects will be deeply power-laden and sociologically patterned. I therefore propose a set of theoretical foci for studying secondary eugenics’ impact on populations and rare disease communities, before concluding with a discussion of pathways for future research.
Early twentieth century sociology was intensely (and mostly shamefully) interested in eugenics. While that might seem like part of a mercifully distant past, this talk argues that the rise of mass reproductive genetics warrants renewed sociological engagement with the question of eugenics. I propose the concept of “secondary eugenics” to theorize how individual-level utilization of genetics technologies may aggregate into population-level effects, even in the absence of eugenic intent. As a case study, I analyze the rollout of non-invasive prenatal genetic screening (NIPT) in the US. NIPT has seen unprecedented numbers of fetuses screened for rare conditions that are cumulatively common and widely underdiagnosed—a development with sweeping implications for both expectant parents and populations affected by genetic disorders. Yet, even as individuals and families make intensely personal decisions about how to use these technologies, their adoption and population-level effects will be deeply power-laden and sociologically patterned. I therefore propose a set of theoretical foci for studying secondary eugenics’ impact on populations and rare disease communities, before concluding with a discussion of pathways for future research.
Daniel Navon is Associate Professor of Sociology at UC San Diego, where he is also a faculty member in the Science Studies Program and the Institute for Practical Ethics. His work focuses on the sociology of science and medicine, qualitative methods, and social theory, with a focus on modern human and medical genetics. He is the author of Mobilizing Mutations: Human Genetics in the Age of Patient Advocacy (Chicago 2019), as well as articles in American Sociological Review, the American Journal of Sociology, Social Studies of Science, Theory & Society, Social Science & Medicine, and other leading journals.