Galton and the beginnings of Eugenics, James Watson

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Interviewee: James Watson. In the 19th century Francis Galton argued that genius and talents are inherited, but he had no idea about the mechanism of heredity. Here James Watson discusses the founding of eugenics and explores some archival materials remaining from the Eugenics Record Office at Cold Spring Harbor. (DNAi Location: Chronicle > Threat of the unfit > Founders > Inherited genius?)

Galton believed that the differences between humans were inherited and he wrote a book about hereditary genius, and thought geniuses should marry other geniuses and have lots of children. And, but you know, there was no way of proving whether these ideas were right or wrong because Galton didn't understand the mechanism of inheritance.

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ID: 15427
Source: DNALC.DNAi
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15431. Charles Davenport's motivation for eugenics, James Watson

James Watson talks about Charles Davenport's motivation for eugenics.

ID: 15431
Source: DNAi

15430. Davenport's Eugenics pamphlet for the YMCA Health League, James Watson

James Watson talks about Davenport's Eugenics pamphlet for the YMCA Health League.

ID: 15430
Source: DNAi

15753. Francis Galton, about 1865

The term eugenics, meaning "well born," was coined in 1883 by Francis Galton, a scientist at University College in London.

ID: 15753
Source: DNAi

15737. Charles Davenport, about 1929

Davenport published the classical description of the inheritance of eye color in 1907 and also did creditable studies of the genetics of albinism and neurofibromatosis.

ID: 15737
Source: DNAi