We equate families with love, and in the best of worlds, that is true. But families can also bring hurt, jealousy, anger. As comedian George Burns quipped, “Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city.”

The old saying “blood is thicker than water” doesn’t always hold. Depending on the circumstances, sometimes the bonds we choose can prove stronger — and truer — than those we inherit.

As an only child of older parents, who in the 1960s counted as positively elderly and whose three siblings each also produced only children, my own family is tiny. It’s not hard to understand why a chosen family composed of dear friends is so important to me — relationships that often feel as close (at least in my heart and imagination, though how would I know?) as the siblings I’ve never had.

In this issue, we touch on the topic of chosen family as we explore our scholars’ pioneering research on family through the lenses of neurobiology, psychology, economics and policy. We examine the far-reaching implications of the accidental creation of what amounts to a national DNA database and challenge the myths about what DNA can truly reveal. We meet generations who connect to the Trojan Family through USC Dornsife’s Joint Educational Project. We also consider the universal power of family-based political rhetoric to include — but also exclude. And we hear faculty reveal how their academic journeys were inspired by their own families.

Look closely at this issue and you will find some less immediately obvious family connections woven through it. Our stunning cover, designed for us by artist Marisa Ware, depicts family in all its layered complexity. It also bears a deeper connection to the Trojan Family than is evident at first glance — Ware’s grandfather, Arnold Ware, was a professor of biochemistry and pathology at Keck School of Medicine of USC.

Speaking of legacy: Readers who share our fascination with typography may be excited to recognize our theme font for this issue is Garamond — a family of old-style serif typefaces that has been adapted and revived over centuries since its creation by French engraver Claude Garamond in 1532. Five centuries later, it remains a popular choice for its readability in both print and digital use.

Whether we imagine kinship as rippling, interconnecting circles or as the growth rings of an old oak, reminding us of family trees that record generations and lineage, writer Alex Haley captured the enduring legacy of family beautifully: “In every conceivable manner,” he wrote, “the family is link to our past, bridge to our future.”

Susan Bell

Editor-in-Chief