Dysgenics
Encyclopedia
Dysgenics is the study of factors producing the accumulation and perpetuation of defective or disadvantageous genes and traits in offspring of a particular population or species. Dysgenic mutation
s have been studied in animals such as the mouse and the fruit fly
. The term dysgenics was first used as an antonym of eugenics
—the social philosophy of improving human hereditary
qualities by social programs and government intervention.
Much of the debate regarding dysgenics has been about a hypothesized decline in intelligence due to lower fertility of the more intelligent.
Another factor is the effect of brain drain
and brain gain due to selective immigration and emigration.
, point to falling cross-generation assessment test scores as evidence that American society has entered into a dysgenic age.
wrote Dysgenics: Genetic Deterioration in Modern Populations. He identified three main concerns of eugenicists, such as himself: deterioration in health
, intelligence and conscientiousness
. Lynn argued that natural selection
in pre-industrial societies favored traits such as intelligence and character but no longer does so in modern societies.
Lynn in a 1995 study of a sample of British criminal convicts found that they had an average fertility of 3.91 children. The general population had an average fertility of 2.1.
Other works by the controversial Lynn have been claimed to distort and misrepresent data although others have favorably reviewed Lynn's work on dysgenics. Richard Lynn (along with Daniel R. Vining and William Shockley) is a major recipient of grants from the Pioneer Fund
.
The word "dysgenic" was first used, as an adjective, about 1915, by David Starr Jordan
, describing the dysgenic effect of World War I
. Jordan believed that healthy men were as likely to die in modern warfare
as anyone else, and that war killed only the physically healthy men of the populace whilst preserving the disabled at home.
s. Practices such as genetic counselling and prenatal screening may counter-act this effect.
's 1951 short story The Marching Morons
is an example of dysgenic fiction, describing a man who accidentally ends up in the distant future to find out that dysgenics has resulted in mass stupidity. Mike Judge
's 2006 film Idiocracy
has the same premise, with the main character the subject of a military hibernation
experiment that goes awry, taking him 500 years into the future. While in the Kornbluth short story civilization is kept afloat by a small group of dedicated geniuses, their function has been replaced by automated systems
in Idiocracy.
Mutation
In molecular biology and genetics, mutations are changes in a genomic sequence: the DNA sequence of a cell's genome or the DNA or RNA sequence of a virus. They can be defined as sudden and spontaneous changes in the cell. Mutations are caused by radiation, viruses, transposons and mutagenic...
s have been studied in animals such as the mouse and the fruit fly
Drosophila melanogaster
Drosophila melanogaster is a species of Diptera, or the order of flies, in the family Drosophilidae. The species is known generally as the common fruit fly or vinegar fly. Starting from Charles W...
. The term dysgenics was first used as an antonym of eugenics
Eugenics
Eugenics is the "applied science or the bio-social movement which advocates the use of practices aimed at improving the genetic composition of a population", usually referring to human populations. The origins of the concept of eugenics began with certain interpretations of Mendelian inheritance,...
—the social philosophy of improving human hereditary
Heredity
Heredity is the passing of traits to offspring . This is the process by which an offspring cell or organism acquires or becomes predisposed to the characteristics of its parent cell or organism. Through heredity, variations exhibited by individuals can accumulate and cause some species to evolve...
qualities by social programs and government intervention.
Intelligence dysgenics
Much of the debate regarding dysgenics has been about a hypothesized decline in intelligence due to lower fertility of the more intelligent.
Another factor is the effect of brain drain
Brain drain
Human capital flight, more commonly referred to as "brain drain", is the large-scale emigration of a large group of individuals with technical skills or knowledge. The reasons usually include two aspects which respectively come from countries and individuals...
and brain gain due to selective immigration and emigration.
Cross-Generational Assessment Test Analysis
Some thinkers in the Eugenics/Dysgenics movement, like Seymour ItzkoffSeymour Itzkoff
Seymour William Itzkoff is an American professor known for his research into intelligence. He has taught at Smith College since 1965 where he is currently professor emeritus of education and child study.-Life and career:...
, point to falling cross-generation assessment test scores as evidence that American society has entered into a dysgenic age.
Dysgenics for other traits
In 1996, Richard LynnRichard Lynn
Richard Lynn is a British Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of Ulster who is known for his views on racial and ethnic differences. Lynn argues that there are hereditary differences in intelligence based on race and sex....
wrote Dysgenics: Genetic Deterioration in Modern Populations. He identified three main concerns of eugenicists, such as himself: deterioration in health
Health
Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person's mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain...
, intelligence and conscientiousness
Conscientiousness
Conscientiousness is the trait of being painstaking and careful, or the quality of acting according to the dictates of one's conscience. It includes such elements as self-discipline, carefulness, thoroughness, organization, deliberation , and need for achievement. It is an aspect of what has...
. Lynn argued that natural selection
Natural selection
Natural selection is the nonrandom process by which biologic traits become either more or less common in a population as a function of differential reproduction of their bearers. It is a key mechanism of evolution....
in pre-industrial societies favored traits such as intelligence and character but no longer does so in modern societies.
Lynn in a 1995 study of a sample of British criminal convicts found that they had an average fertility of 3.91 children. The general population had an average fertility of 2.1.
Other works by the controversial Lynn have been claimed to distort and misrepresent data although others have favorably reviewed Lynn's work on dysgenics. Richard Lynn (along with Daniel R. Vining and William Shockley) is a major recipient of grants from the Pioneer Fund
Pioneer Fund
The Pioneer Fund is an American non-profit foundation established in 1937 "to advance the scientific study of heredity and human differences." Currently headed by psychology professor J. Philippe Rushton, the fund states that it focuses on projects it perceives will not be easily funded due to...
.
The word "dysgenic" was first used, as an adjective, about 1915, by David Starr Jordan
David Starr Jordan
David Starr Jordan, Ph.D., LL.D. was a leading eugenicist, ichthyologist, educator and peace activist. He was president of Indiana University and Stanford University.-Early life and education:...
, describing the dysgenic effect of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Jordan believed that healthy men were as likely to die in modern warfare
Modern warfare
Modern warfare, although present in every historical period of military history, is generally used to refer to the concepts, methods and technologies that have come into use during and after the Second World War and the Korean War...
as anyone else, and that war killed only the physically healthy men of the populace whilst preserving the disabled at home.
Genetic disorders
Improved medical and social care may possibly lead to increased incidence of genetic disorderGenetic disorder
A genetic disorder is an illness caused by abnormalities in genes or chromosomes, especially a condition that is present from before birth. Most genetic disorders are quite rare and affect one person in every several thousands or millions....
s. Practices such as genetic counselling and prenatal screening may counter-act this effect.
In fiction
Cyril M. KornbluthCyril M. Kornbluth
Cyril M. Kornbluth was an American science fiction author and a notable member of the Futurians. He used a variety of pen-names, including Cecil Corwin, S. D. Gottesman, Edward J. Bellin, Kenneth Falconer, Walter C. Davies, Simon Eisner and Jordan Park...
's 1951 short story The Marching Morons
The Marching Morons
"The Marching Morons" is a science fiction story written by Cyril M. Kornbluth, originally published in Galaxy in April 1951. It was included in The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume Two after being voted one of the best novellas up to 1965....
is an example of dysgenic fiction, describing a man who accidentally ends up in the distant future to find out that dysgenics has resulted in mass stupidity. Mike Judge
Mike Judge
Michael Craig Judge is an American animator, film director, writer and voice actor, best known as the creator and star of the animated television series Beavis and Butt-head , King of the Hill , and The Goode Family .He also wrote, directed and in some instances produced the films Beavis and...
's 2006 film Idiocracy
Idiocracy
Idiocracy is a 2006 American film, a satirical science fiction comedy, directed by Mike Judge and starring Luke Wilson, Maya Rudolph, Dax Shepard, and Terry Crews....
has the same premise, with the main character the subject of a military hibernation
Hibernation
Hibernation is a state of inactivity and metabolic depression in animals, characterized by lower body temperature, slower breathing, and lower metabolic rate. Hibernating animals conserve food, especially during winter when food supplies are limited, tapping energy reserves, body fat, at a slow rate...
experiment that goes awry, taking him 500 years into the future. While in the Kornbluth short story civilization is kept afloat by a small group of dedicated geniuses, their function has been replaced by automated systems
Automation
Automation is the use of control systems and information technologies to reduce the need for human work in the production of goods and services. In the scope of industrialization, automation is a step beyond mechanization...
in Idiocracy.
See also
- Devolution (biological fallacy)
- DegenerationDegenerationThe idea of degeneration had significant influence on science, art and politics from the 1850s to the 1950s. The social theory developed consequently from Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution...
- Societal collapseSocietal collapseSocietal collapse broadly includes both quite abrupt societal failures typified by collapses , as well as more extended gradual declines of superpowers...
- Social DarwinismSocial DarwinismSocial Darwinism is a term commonly used for theories of society that emerged in England and the United States in the 1870s, seeking to apply the principles of Darwinian evolution to sociology and politics...
- List of congenital disorders
External links
- Dysgenics online ebook.