• “Euthenics" is “improvement in the environment.”
• Mere improvement of the genotype is of no use unless the improved genotype is given access to a suitable environment which will enable the genes to express themselves readily
• Thus the solution of improving the human race does not lie in contrasting heredity and environment but rather in the mutual interaction of heredity and environment factors
• This environmental manipulation is called euthenics and has considerable broader prospects for success
Examples:
• Laws for the protection of the foetus from environmental harm may be described as euthenics e.g.
• Government-required warnings on alcohol and cigarette containers that drinking or smoking while pregnant may harm the fetus.
• Adding iodine to salt (to prevent thyroid deficiency), vitamin D to milk (to prevent rickets), or folic acid to cereal products (to prevent spina bifida) are other examples, as is vaccinating women for rubella to prevent rubella in the fetus (rubella may damage the fetus).
References:
• Park’s Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 23rd ed.
• 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