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

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. 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. By Daniel J. Kevles. First California Paperback 1986--t.p. Verso. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [303]-381) And Index. A rich narrative about the science of "improving" the human race, from the 19th century to genetic engineering today All the more powerful for confronting folly with urbanity and a clear eye.''