Francis Galton: and eugenics today
by
Galton DJ, Galton CJ.
Department of Metabolism and Genetics,
St Bartholomew's Hospital, London.
J Med Ethics. 1998 Apr;24(2):99-105.

ABSTRACT

Eugenics can be defined as the use of science applied to the qualitative and quantitative improvement of the human genome. The subject was initiated by Francis Galton with considerable support from Charles Darwin in the latter half of the 19th century. Its scope has increased enormously since the recent revolution in molecular genetics. Genetic files can be easily obtained for individuals either antenatally or at birth; somatic gene therapy has been introduced for some rare inborn errors of metabolism; and gene manipulation of human germ-line cells will no doubt occur in the near future to generate organs for transplantation. The past history of eugenics has been appalling, with gross abuses in the USA between 1931 and 1945 when compulsory sterilization was practised; and in Germany between 1933 and 1945 when mass extermination and compulsory sterilization were performed. To prevent such abuses in the future statutory bodies, such as a genetics commission, should be established to provide guidance and rules of conduct for use of the new information and technologies as applied to the human genome

Biohappiness
Reprogenetics
Liberal Eugenics
Private eugenics
'Designer babies'
Personal genomics
Psychiatric genetics
Eugenics before Galton
'Liberal eugenics' (PDF)
Scandanavian eugenics
Human self-domestication
Selecting potential children
Preimplantation genetic diagnosis
Transhumanism/Brave New World?
'The Principle of Procreative Beneficience'
Gene therapy and performance enhancement
The commercialisation of pre-natal enhancement
Biologising social problems under the banner of eugenics

Refs
and further reading

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MDMA: Utopian Pharmacology
Critique of Huxley's Brave New World