Human Genetics: Eugenics

eugenics

attempt to improve human species by selective breeding

social origins of eugenics

• rapid growth of U.S. industry

• increased mechanization of agriculture

• major migration away from farms

• cities expanded faster than adequate housing

• wholesale exploitation of labor

• huge influx of immigrants from Europe

scientific influence on eugenics

• Charles Darwin: developed theory of evolution

• Gregor Mendel: experiments in plant hybridization

• Herbert Spencer : Social Darwinism—>survival of fittest

• Francis Galton: nature and nurture influences

nature vs nurture

• nature: all that a man brings with him into the world

• nurture: every external influence that affects man after birth

positive eugenics

• encourage breeding and selection for favorable characteristics

• ex. contests between families to deem who is fittest

negative eugenics

• prevention of breeding and reproduction for undesirable characteristics

• ex. sterilization laws, immigration restriction, prohibition against racial inter-marriage

research methodology

• collect pedigrees

• assess phenotypes

flaws in methodology

• difficulty defining traits

• tendency to treat complex traits as single gene traits

• discounted social and environmental influences on behavior

• poor survey and statistical methods

degeneracy theory

certain social classes and races were predisposed to various neurological and mental illnesses due to bad heredity, resulting in social degradation

sterilization law

authorized sterilization of socially inadequate

Buck vs. Bell

• Carrie Buck considered probable potential parent of inadequate offspring

• 8-1 decision of supreme court deemed that Virginia Sterilization Act of 1924 did not violate constitution

eugenics and Nazi Germany

• eugenics used as excuse to kill handicapped children and adults

• led to decline of eugenics movement in U.S.

immigration restriction

• entry prohibited to anyone unable to care of themselves

• immigration restricted from specific areas for being genetically inferior (East Europe)

• encouraged immigration from areas believed to be genetically superior (West Europe)

Laws against race mixing

legal definitions on who could qualify for marriage license as white person

Loving vs. Commonwealth of Virginia

• interracial couple sentenced to 1 year in jail for being married

• court unanimously overturned ruling