Ethical Issues Of Eugenics

Words: 1186
Pages: 5
Open Document
Although eugenics in unethical in practice, its complex history started with good intentions. The term “eugenics” was first coined by scientist Francis Galton in the late 1800s (Tredoux). Galton’s first advancement into eugenics began with the analysis of the characteristics, such as general intelligence, of England’s upper social classes and concluded that they were hereditary, thus desirable traits could be passed down through generations, proving that eugenics is “simple” and began with innocent research. The eugenics movement reached popularity and legality in the United States when eugenicists helped implement legislation to force sterilization of poor, uneducated, and minority populations to prevent them from procreating. The enacted …show more content…
Unfortunately, this is gravely untrue, as seen by the rates of female infanticide in countries such as China and India. “Neglect or killing of children may reflect a “survival strategy” that families [in India and China] adopt. Parents might decide to invest more heavily in their “best bets” and neglect the rest. In most cultures, the best bets are often males. Families in these cultures may decide to kill their female children either outright, or passively, through abandonment or starvation to increase the likelihood that their families might survive” (“Female Infanticide in India and China”). In fact, “between 4 million and 12 million girls are thought have been aborted from 1980 to 2010” (“Up to 12 Million Girls Aborted in India in 30 Years”). These statistics prove that eugenics is happening today, right before our very eyes. Countries with little economic opportunities for women are turning to aborting them and lowering the diversity of the human genome because men in these countries are better off. Diversity needs to be celebrated, not …show more content…
So, eradicating genetically inherited diseases that we consider “unfit,” in this environment may be potentially useful in a different time, or even a different environment. For instance, hemochromatosis is a disorder that causes iron to build up in the body. Eventually, the iron can build up to dangerous levels, where it damages organs like the pancreas and the liver; that’s why it’s often called the “iron overload.” Science has now discovered that the gene for hemochromatosis is the most common genetic variant in people of Western European descent. In the case for hemochromatosis, we know that the disease probably provided carriers with protection from the plague by denying the bacteria that causes it the iron it needs to survive (Moalem). This shows us that some illnesses have proven to be useful in the past and provided a genetic advantage at that time period (natural selection and the theory of evolution, people!). If we were to remove this gene from our human genome, whether on purpose or by happenstance, we have no idea of the genetic repercussions that could result from losing it. It’s this unpredictability that makes
Show More

Related Documents: Ethical Issues Of Eugenics

Eugenics: The Ethical Issues Of Human Cloning

reproductive cloning. This refers to the technique of creating a new multicellular organism, genetically identical to another (Bonsor, 2014). However, there are major ethical concerns and controversies with regards to this particular branch of science. Parts of the science community theorize that human cloning would spark an onset of Eugenics. Eugenics is the attempt to improve the population by a method of controlled breeding; it is a concept that deals with the improvement of hereditary qualities of a race…

Words 583 - Pages 3

Genetic: Eugenics Movement Essay

Eugenics Eugenics gained popularity throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as some scientists incorrectly believed that many human behaviors, like alcoholism or social dependency, were solely the product of genes, independent of environmental influences.(1/4 Hix, Laura, (2009). Modern Eugenics. 2/7 Lewis, Ricki “concepts and applications” 10th edition 5 Pickens, L. Donald, (1968). Eugenics 6 O’keefe, John, (1995). Eugenics. 8 www.Publiceye.org, 1995. 9 www.facing…

Words 2085 - Pages 9

Designer Babies Essay

traits and 72% said they were worried or somewhat worried that science may start to “Play god” in terms of genetic modifications. (Moore, YouGov) While these statistics show the residual concerns the population has expressed ever since the words “Eugenics” and “Master Race” have been used, it fails to address the overall breakthroughs and benefits that science is making in genetics that seek to ensure a chance for a healthy life. Topics such as stem cell research have had open discussions in the…

Words 2227 - Pages 9

Ethical Issues In Disability Analysis

Analysis of Historical, Legal, and Ethical Issue Federal Laws have properly defined a person with a disability as “any person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits on or major life activities” (Disability Rights in Housing, n.d.). In earlier decades, there were many issues in relations to a person who wad born with an exceptionality (disability) and whether these issues would even be consider as ethical in today’s society. A person born with a disability, especially…

Words 1590 - Pages 7

History 190 Paper 2 Eugenics Final Assignment

Matthew Hoeffner 12/17/14 ID# 74975454 History 190 Eugenics, and Their Attack on the World of Color Throughout the History of mankind there have been people of different colors, and differing levels of intelligence, but in the recent history of the past several hundred years there have been many different attempts using science to draw a link between race or color and intelligence. This leads to the scientific practice of eugenics, which is one of the most controversial practices when it comes to race and the treatment of those of…

Words 2795 - Pages 12

Eugenics Movement Essay

Proposal Eugenics Not many know that eugenics was prevalent in America during the 1900's or know how and why it was done. In the early 1900's America sought out to create a healthier and genetically fitter society; by forcibly sterilizing "unfit" citizens, even without consent. Not known by the public this idea was then adopted by the late Hitler himself for the purpose of creating a "perfect" race. Since the start of the eugenics movement it has had many backlashes and is not outlawed in the United…

Words 3556 - Pages 15

Reproductive Rights Issues

feminist, and mainstream news, one group often left out of these discussions is that of disabled individuals. Stemming from a history of eugenics, people with intellectual and other disabilities often faced forced or coerced sterilizations—a practice that still continues to this day. In fact, disabled women remain the population most at risk of being subjected to such eugenic practices (Foley, 2012). Disabled individuals who do have children often lose custody of them, while many also lack the resources…

Words 1174 - Pages 5

Gender Stereotypes

fair-opportunity, in this case utilizing sex selection and PGD for non-medical reasons, should be discouraged from using such procedures. Further to the deontological perspective, consequentialists would ultimately fear that humans will be moving towards a eugenic world in which children are valued more for their genotype than for their inherent characteristics. Applying this view to sex selection and PGD, individuals may become prone to using the reproductive technology to create designer babies. If individuals…

Words 1870 - Pages 8

Rhetorical Analysis: The Ethical Dilemma Of Designer Babies

Rhetorical Analysis: A Cautious Step Into the Future In his artfully crafted TedTalk “The Ethical Dilemma of Designer Babies”, author and scientist Paul Knoepfler advises his audience to use exercise caution before falling under the spell of tempting technological advances. Leading with a powerful, not too far off vision of the future in which genetically modified humans are commonplace; Knoepfler pulls on the audience's heartstrings, using an adorable hypothetical daughter he’s named Marianne. She…

Words 1099 - Pages 5

Human Genome Project: Purpose And Implications

Institutes of Health. Completed in 2003, the project identified an estimated 25,000 genes and 3 billion base pairs in the DNA of an entire human genome as well as new tools for genetic data analysis and storage, addressing the inherent ethical legal, and social issues involved with the study of genetics, and transferring newly developed technologies to the private sector. This became an international effort where researchers…

Words 1909 - Pages 8