Introduction: Sociological perspectives on the new genetics: an overview

Geneticists moved to separate themselves from the pseudo-science of eugenics, social scientists criticised the eugenicists’ faulty underlying assumptions, and the Nazis’ theories of various diseases, conditions and behaviours were criticised.

Abstract

We are at the dawn of a genetic age.The Human Genome Project, the largest biological research enterprise in history, promises to have our entire genetic structure mapped by 2001.Our media report new scientific claims of genes associated with diseases, conditions, behaviours or personality traits so regularly that it seems that we are being provided with a gene-of-theweek.Scientists have identified or claimed genes for cystic fibrosis, Huntington Disease, Fragile X syndrome, breast cancer, Alzheimer's disease, colon cancer, bipolar illness, obesity, homosexuality, alcoholism, 'novelty seeking', shyness, bed wetting; the list gets longer weekly.James Watson, so-discoverer of the double helix structure of DNA and founding father of the Human Genome Project has declared, 'We used to think our fate was in the stars.Now we know, in large part, it is in our genes' (cited in Horgan 1993).The history of genetics is long and complex, encompassing numerous strands.In 1859 Gregor Mendel, an Austrian monk, discovered the rules of inheritance by doing carefully controlled breeding experiments with garden pea plants.In 1883 British scientist Frances Galton coined the term eugenics as 'the science of improvement of the human race germplasm through better breeding' (cited in Haller 1963: 3).For several decades eugenics thrived as both a form of 'science' and as a social movement.With the 'rediscovery' of Mendel's laws at the turn of the century, the eugenic movement adopted a scientific mantle and prospered in both the US and UK.Attempts at eugenic hygiene included identifying 'genetic defectives', and controlling their procreation or assimilation into society through marriage and immigration laws as well as sterilisation of 'undesirables'.In addition, eugenicists offered incentives for those deemed more generally fit (i.e. the upper classes) to increase their reproduction in order to improve the genetic stock.Prior to World War II, scientists and eugenicists proffered hereditarian theories of various diseases, conditions and behaviours.The eugenics movement flourished through the 30s, but eventually began to wane.Geneticists moved to separate themselves from the pseudo-science of eugenics, social scientists criticised the eugenicists' faulty underlying assumptions, and the Nazis'