Eugenics & CRISPR

Question 1

Eugenics

Answer 1

The study of how to rearrange reproduction within a human population to increase the occurrence of heritable characteristics considered to be desirable.

Question 2

Phrenology

Answer 2

Determining the characteristics of people by measuring skull shape, size, bumps, and using this data to compare peoples intelligence, character, and morality

Question 3

Francis Galton

Answer 3

• shaped by the idea of using phrenology
• created the dog whistle
• tried to prove his intelligence using a pedigree chart

Question 4

Galton’s Books

Answer 4

Hereditary Genius, 1869

Inquiries into Human Faculties 1883

Question 5

Galton’s Term

Answer 5

eu = good, well
genics = birth

Question 6

Social Ills at the time

Answer 6

Immigration
Industrialization
Urbanization
WWI
Great Depression

Question 7

Positive Eugenics

Answer 7

The promotion of the birth of a specific desirable category of people

Question 8

Race Suicide

Answer 8

If you are a good person/average person but don’t have kids = unfortunate
If you are a superior stock of person and deliberately don’t have kids = CRIME

Question 9

Negative Eugenics

Answer 9

The discouragement of reproduction within a category of people considered less desirable

Question 10

Baby Bolinger & Dr. Haiselden, 1915

Answer 10

Baby had birth defects and health issues which required medical attention immediately. Dr. Haiselden decided not to interfere and let the baby die immediately.

Question 11

The Black Stork, 1917

Answer 11

Film by Dr. Haiselden

Question 12

Feeblemindedness

Answer 12

Idiots, Imbeciles, Morons

Question 13

5 Levels of Feeblemindedness (most dangerous to least dangerous)

Answer 13

1. Morons - most dangerous because they can pass in society
2. High Grade Imbecile
3. Medium Grade Imbecile
4. Low Grade Imbecile
5. Idiot

Question 14

Eugenical Sterilization Law

Answer 14

Harry Laughlin, 1927
People who fall under this law:
- socially inadequate classes
- epileptic -> ironic because Laughlin was epileptic

Question 15

Buck v. Bell

Answer 15

Case that was used to bring the Eugenical Sterilization Law to the Supreme Court

Question 16

Buck v. Bell

Answer 16

Carrie Buck was raped and had a child out of wedlock which was considered socially unacceptable. She was deemed feebleminded after rape and her child was considered “backwards” at 7 months. She was considered morally irresponsible.

Question 17

Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. 1927

Answer 17

• Carrie’s defense was a eugenicist = no help
• if there are young men giving up their lives for the country then “defective” people should be able to sacrifice their reproduction
• 3 generations of imbeciles are enough
• in the case of a health emergency -> forced sterilizations were allowed

Question 18

Post Eugenics

Answer 18

• voluntary/selective sterilization
• rhetoric was a big influence
• if you are “good stock” but wanna get sterilized you could be turned down

Question 19

Madrigal v Quilligan, 1978

Answer 19

Noncompliant signings for sterilization

Question 20

Palindromes

Answer 20

a word, phrase, or sequence that reads the same backward as forward

Question 21

CRISPR

Answer 21

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats

- a mechanism originally identified in bacteria as a defense against viruses

Question 22

gRNA

Answer 22

a two-piece molecule that is binded by Cas9 used to identify a complementary NDA sequence. It is composed of crRNA and tracrRNA.

Question 23

Dr. Josiah Zayner

Answer 23

Dr. Josiah Zayner is a scientist that previously worked for NASA. His connection to CRISPR is that he posted an article on craigslist titled “Being Framed Need Genetic Engineering Help.” He wanted help from someone with a background and experience with DNA to hack his genes so that he wouldn’t be caught being a part of a crime scene.