Defined as the science which aims to improve the genetic endowment of human population
Eugenics is directed against whole populations and in present times, is considered to be associated with coercive policy
Hence today, it has a negative connotation.
Eugenics has two different fields, negative eugenics and positive eugenics
Negative eugenics:
• The aim of negative eugenics is to reduce the frequency of hereditary disease and disability in the community to as low as possible. It aims to achieve this by preventing the people suffering from serious hereditary diseases from perpetuating their defects through propagation:
– Sterilizing them or somehow debar from producing children
– Hitler went to extent of killing the weak and defective
• It seems that negative eugenic measures may not be helpful in eliminating genetic defects because:
• in spite of eugenic sterilization, new cases of hereditary diseases will continue to arise in the population
– partly because of fresh mutations and
– partly because of marital alliances between hidden carriers of recessive defects
• Nevertheless it may be hoped that should eugenic measures be applied, hereditary diseases would become less frequent
Positive eugenics:
• It seeks to improve the genetic composition of the population by encouraging the carriers of desirable genotypes to assume the burden of parenthood
• Thereby selecting the superior in the process of reproduction
• At present positive eugenics has very little application because
– The majority of socially valuable traits like intelligence and positive character features are not inherited in a simple way as blood groups are.
– These traits have a complex, multifactorial determination, both genetic and environmental
– We cannot determine which gene we transmit to our children
There is little evidence for eugenics practice in the modern world.
Eugenics is probably not the solution to the question of improving the human race because:
– Most disabilities are not the results of chromosomal or single-gene disorders, and
– Most babies born with a genetic disorder are born to families with no known risk for having a child with that condition.
‘Euphenics’, ‘Euthenics’ and ‘Genetic counselling’ may be considered as more practical alternatives.
References:
• Park’s Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 23rd ed.
• Lester F. Ward (1913). American Journal of Sociology; Vol. 18, No. 6 (May, 1913), pp. 737-754
• WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, 2003. Review of Ethical Issues in Medical Genetics: Human Genetics Programme, Management of Non-communicable Diseases; Geneva: WHO/HGN/ETH/00.4
Eugenics: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/eugenics
Negative Eugenics and Positive Eugenics: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/eugenics
Euphenics: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/euphenics
Euthenics: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/euthenics
Genetic Counselling: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/genetic-counselling
Neonatal Screening: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/neonatal-screening
Prenatal Diagnosis: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/prenatal-diagnosis
Gene therapy: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/gene-therapy
Erythroblastosis Foetalis: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/erythroblastosis-foetalis
Role of Genetic Predisposition in Common Disorders: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/role-genetic-predisposition-common-disorders
Difference between ‘Eugenics’ and ‘Genetic Counselling’: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/difference-between-%E2%80%98eugenics%E2%80%...
FAQs in Genetics and Health (lecture): http://www.ihatepsm.com/category/genetics-and-health