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.
insights INSIGHT
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.
insights INSIGHT
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.
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In this book, Sir Francis Galton discusses a wide range of psychological and anthropometric topics, including intellectual differences, mental imagery, and the variety of human nature. He also introduces the concept of eugenics, advocating for the improvement of human stock through selective breeding. The book covers various aspects of human faculties, comparing them across different races and societies.
Control
David Mack
On the Origin of Species
Charles Darwin
Published on November 24, 1859, 'On the Origin of Species' by Charles Darwin is a seminal work in scientific literature. The book presents a comprehensive theory of evolution, arguing that species evolve over generations through the process of natural selection. Darwin supported his theory with evidence collected during his voyage on the HMS Beagle, as well as from subsequent research, correspondence, and experimentation. The book addresses the struggle for existence, the variability of species, and the principle of divergence, explaining how natural selection leads to the adaptation and diversification of life on Earth. It has been a cornerstone of evolutionary biology and has had significant impacts on both scientific and public discourse[2][4][5].
In 1859, Charles Darwin published On the Origin of Species, a book about the evolution of non-human animals by natural selection.In its wake, a political idea arose — eugenics. Reading Darwin's book, Sir Francis Galton proposed that humans should be bred to give more "suitable" characteristics a "better chance of prevailing." Today, producer Rebecca Ramirez talks to Adam Rutherford about his new book, Control: The Dark History and Troubling Present of Eugenics, which traces the inextricable link between political ideology and science, and the enduring shadow of eugenics.
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