What is Eugenics?

Eugenics is the theory that humans can influence our own evolution, through selective breeding, or genetic enhancement.  Usually, the word "eugenics" has a highly negative connotation, implying government sponsorship of breeding programs and forced sterilization of "undesirables".

For example, between 1934 and 1975, Sweden sterilized more than 62,000 mentally ill people.  The Nazis in Germany were much worse, of course, simply killing those they considered innately "inferior".  Government involvement in human breeding or genetic selection is always evil, and any sort of genetic discrimination is also morally wrong.

On the other hand, most people agree that elimination of genetic diseases by personal choice is a good idea.  For example, Ashkenazi Jews have effectively used screening tests to virtually eliminate Tay-Sachs disease.  I wouldn't call this "eugenics" (since it's not government-sponsored) but it's certainly an example of human-directed evolution, since it altered the prevalence of certain genes in the population.

So how far should personal choice be allowed to go?  Aside from eliminating genetic diseases, should we allow personal choice over other genetic traits?  A 1993 March of Dimes poll found that 11% of parents said they would abort a fetus whose genome was predisposed to obesity. Four out of five would abort a fetus if it would grow up with a disability. Forty-three percent said they would use genetic engineering if available simply to enhance their child's appearance.

Would this sort of genetic enhancement (to create "designer babies") be considered eugenics?  In my opinion, no, as long as the decisions are not made by governments.  Would there be "cultural pressure" to genetically enhance your children, if everyone around you was doing so?  Probably (that's why genetic counseling services will be a growing industry).  If scientists identified a gene enhancement technique that could make your children more intelligent, and all your neighbors were using it, would you have the courage to buck the trend?  Should you?

In any case, choosing to conform (or not) to cultural expectations is different from government coerced eugenics.

Comments

[Vanessa]

From your post it is clear that people will misuse personal choice without proper guidelines. We have already seen it happening in the use of ultrasound scanning that tells the gender of the child. This increases girl child abortion rates in countries where the male child is preferred.

Vanessa @ http://tinyurl.com/4njehj

[Kim Crawford]

Your comment regarding prenatal genetic testing to virtually eliminate Tay-Sachs is incorrect. Prenatal screening is only used to identify fetuses affected by Tay-Sachs, ie two mutated copies of the Hex A gene. Fetuses identified to be carriers, ie one mutated copy of the Hex A gene are carried to term and have a 50% chance of passing the gene to their off-spring.