Short Wave Control: Eugenics And The Corruption Of Science
Nov 4, 2022
Adam Rutherford, a geneticist and author of "Control: The Dark History and Troubling Present of Eugenics," dives into the chilling history of eugenics and its roots in 19th-century Britain, spurred by Darwin's theories. He explores how societal fears shaped this pseudo-science, linking it to political ideologies. The discussion highlights the dark legacy of American eugenics, including forced sterilizations and racial bias, and emphasizes the importance of understanding this flawed legacy to avoid repeating history's mistakes.
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Early Genetic Counseling
- The Talmud, from the third century BC, offers early examples of genetic counseling.
- It advises against circumcising a fourth son if three brothers died from bleeding after circumcision, possibly describing hemophilia.
Darwin and Eugenics
- Darwin's 1859 book, On the Origin of Species, highlighted biological inheritance.
- This concept fueled the rise of eugenics, a political ideology advocating for selective human breeding.
Galton and Eugenics
- Sir Francis Galton, Charles Darwin's half-cousin, developed eugenics.
- Galton, a racist and white supremacist, aimed to improve the British population through selective breeding.
