In the Name of Eugenics : Genetics and the Uses of Human Heredity

Traces the history of eugenics, the science of improving human beings by exploiting theories of heredity, from its late-nineteenth-century origins to the present, addressing such controversial issues as cloning and genetic engineering. Daniel Kevles traces the study and practice of eugenics--the science of "improving" the human species by exploiting theories of heredity--from its inception in the late nineteenth century to its most recent manifestation within the field of genetic engineering. It is rich in narrative, anecdote, attention to human detail, and stories of competition among scientists who have dominated the field.