Starre Julia Vartan

I’d always been curious about the science behind being the last of my line on my father’s side. I explore the genetics and my feelings about it in this essay for Psyche, part of Aeon Magazine.

So, when I end my family line, unless I have a totally new, unique mutation that will then disappear from the gene pool (unlikely, according to experts), all the genes that make up who I am will still exist in other people’s DNA strands. What’s unique about me – and you – is simply the particular combination of those genes. Ashleigh Griffin, professor of evolutionary biology at the University of Oxford, explained: ‘What you’re really doing is shutting down the lineage that has that exact combination of genes.’ In that way, the layperson’s understanding of genetics and family line is correct. As a childfree person, I’m ending something particular.

I asked Griffin if it mattered – genetically. But the way she answered made me think that this probably wasn’t really a science question after all: ‘There’s nothing objectively wrong with a family line going extinct, right? It’s a subjective thing. Do you think that’s a problem?’ I said I didn’t, but wondered if it might have any larger implication. Since they are my genes, she said simply: ‘If you don’t think it’s a problem, it’s not a problem, right?’

Right. I don’t think my particular set of genes is important or valuable enough to change my life and commit to the lifelong job of parenting to continue them. I’m more interested in contributing to the great big human experiment in other ways. I hope my work will lead to a better future for human beings, and that I can contribute something else of value outside my genes.

Read the full essay in Psyche here.