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Early-career-researcher-led best practices for social science and behavioural genetics

An emerging market promotes embryo selection for behavioural traits including IQ, but the response of the social and behavioural genetic research community remains muted. We call for unified best practices, updated training and participatory ethics so that the field can strengthen accountability for its present-day impact and prevent future harms.

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Correspondence to Vincent J. Straub, Nadia V. Harerimana or Lyydia I. A. Alajääskö.

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V.J.S. is a research scholar for Our Future Health. N.V.H., L.I.A.A., S.O.B., A.B., T.L.-N.V., Q.P., R.D.S. and M.T. declare no competing interests.

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Nature Human Behaviour thanks Tinca Polderman and José Morosoli for their contribution to the peer review of this work.

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Straub, V.J., Harerimana, N.V., Alajääskö, L.I.A. et al. Early-career-researcher-led best practices for social science and behavioural genetics. Nat Hum Behav (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-026-02469-6

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