Questions about eugenics?
Eugenics is a “the study of, or belief in, the possibility of improving the qualities of the human species or a human population, esp. by such means as discouraging reproduction by persons having genetic defects or presumed to have inheritable undesirable traits (negative eugenics) or encouraging reproduction by persons presumed to have inheritable desirable traits (positive eugenics).” Eugenics was at its height in the early decades of the 20th century and was largely abandoned with the end of World War II. At its zenith, the movement often pursued pseudoscientific notions of racial supremacy and purity.
eu⋅gen⋅ics [yoo-jen-iks] –noun (used with a singular verb) the study of or belief in the possibility of improving the qualities of the human species or a human population, esp. by such means as discouraging reproduction by persons having genetic defects or presumed to have inheritable undesirable traits (negative eugenics) or encouraging reproduction by persons presumed to have inheritable desirable traits (positive eugenics). By understanding our own genetics, the possibilities or passing along inherited traits to our child might impact whether we have children or don’t have children. Technology can now map most of the human genome. Scientists can look at what positive and negative traits that could be passed to our children, like personality disorders, cancer markers, genetic syndromes…etc. Ethically we have to decide is it better to direct the way we reproduce or just take pot luck, so to speak.
