lecture 7 - eugenics

Question 1

define eugenics and eugene. etymology?

Answer 1

• Eugenics= good creation
  Eugenes = well born
  
  • Greek words - taken from the idea from greek philosophers
  • Francis Galton popularized it, cousin of darwin

Question 2

how did galton contribute to eugenics

Answer 2

• Galton published a book in 1883
  
  • Galton hoped to propagate the British elite - his plan never took hold in the UK, but was widely embraced in america

Question 3

what is eugenics? goal?

Answer 3

• Eugenics is the practice or advocacy of improving the human species by selectively mating people with specific “desirable” hereditary traits
  Mainly, the aim to “reduce human suffering” by breeding out diseases, disabilities, and so called undesirable characteristics from the human population

Question 4

what did early eugenics proponents believe?

Answer 4

• Early supporters believed that criminal behaviors, mental illness, poverty, etc was inherited

Question 5

positive vs negative eugenics?

Answer 5

• Positive: is the improvement of the human race by encouraging those with desirable genetic traits to produce more
  
  • Negative eugenics: is the reduced reproduction and even sterilization of individuals with less desirable or undesirable genetic traits

Question 6

eugenics path diagram

Answer 6

production of good offspring -> improvement of gene pool -> improvement of genetic qualities of populations (race/breed) -> positive eugenics or negative eugenics

Question 7

how was positive eugenics achieved?

Answer 7

o Encouraging high-achieving people to have more children.
o Creating sperm banks and artificial insemination by donors.
o Egg selection
o Embryo donation
o Genetics engineering
Put into place policies to encourage reproduction + establishing sperm banks for those with desirable traits

Question 8

how was negative eugenics achieved

Answer 8

discourage reproduction by the unfit
- prevent marriage and racial mixing
- institutionalization
-sterilization and castration
- immigration quotas
-stigmatization and discrimination
-death/extermination
discourage or prevent birth of the unfit
- abortion

Question 9

how did ronald fisher contribute

Answer 9

• Some of the early pioneers of evolutionary theory were enthusiastic proponents of eugenics: the idea of enhancing the human population by eliminating unfit genes
  
  • Ronald fisher, for example, devoted part of his 1930s book to his hope for improving the human race by this means - he even fathered eight children to further the cause

Question 10

what legal means were used to further eugenics? what did it inspire?

Answer 10

• Legislative means to “sterilize” the “feeble minded” - nazis were inspired by this

Question 11

how did the big 3 support eugenics

Answer 11

• The big 3 used sophisticated methods to show that genetics can be used to “purify” the human race - eliminate maladaptive traits
  
  • Books by halden and wright also supported eugenics

Question 12

how did john kellogg contribute? role of the american eugenics society?

Answer 12

• Popularized
  
  • John Kellogg was very involved in eugenics - organized the “race betterment foundation” in 1911
    ○ Established a pedigree registry
    ○ Foundation held many national conferences about eugenics
  • American eugenics society
    ○ Tracked families and their genetic traits and claimed most people unfit - immigrants, minorities, and the poor

Question 13

what are newgenics

Answer 13

• Newgenics” is the name given to modern
  eugenic practices that have emerged in light of
  new technological developments, referring to ideas and practices that appeal to scientific advances and genetic knowledge with the aim of improving mankind and curing or eliminating genetically based illness.

Question 14

two technologies used in newgenics?

Answer 14

○ Pre-natal testing and selective abortions
○ Pre elimination genetic diagnosis