Dating apps can pair you up with potential soulmates based on just about anything: your height preferences, age, religion, “soul signature,” etc. Now, a famed Harvard geneticist wants to throw DNA into the algorithm.
In a recent 60 Minutes interview, geneticist George Church revealed he wants to create a dating app that would match users based on their genetic compatibility — i.e., their likelihood of not passing on genetic diseases to their future offspring.
The idea, said Church, would be to eliminate genetic diseases by only matching up genetically compatible couples. If you think back to high school biology, you may recall that two healthy individuals could end up passing along genetic diseases to their offspring if they both carry the same recessive trait. Church’s dating app would seek to prevent this by not pairing up two carriers of such traits.
“You’re suggesting that if everyone has their genome sequenced and the correct matches are made, that all of these diseases could be eliminated?” asked correspondent Scott Pelley.
“Right,” said Church. “You wouldn’t find out who you’re not compatible with,” he added. “You’ll just find out who you are compatible with.”
It’s an ambitious plan of course, one that would ultimately require a decidedly dystopian restructuring of society in which every human on Earth were forced to undergo genome sequencing, register for the same dating app, and only procreate with people they matched with on said dating app.
Then again, given the current pre-apocalyptic state of the world today, maybe a terrifyingly dystopian DNA dating app isn’t actually such a far-fetched idea after all. And hey, if we’re going to end up in a dystopian hellscape anyway, might as well eradicate genetic disease, right?
Eugenics Archive (classwork)
Work for Wednesday
LINK: Eugenics Archive (for class partner work) (click "MENU of Virtual Exhibits" and then click your assigned topic)1) Create a summary, including key terms from your section to share with the class
2) Find, within your section, examples of TRADITION and CHANGE, or TENSION within the 1920s society
3) Respond to your section-specific questions below
Social Origins of Eugenics
a. What was happening in the US that allowed Eugenics to develop?
b. How did CLASS and NATIVISM play into this new science?
Janiel, Karelys // Taysha & Ziarre // Jesse & Josh // Shea & Aiden
Scientific Origins of Eugenics
a. What were the differences between the two branches of eugenics ("positive" & negative)?
b. What was the role of steritilzation within Eugenics?
Jaedyn, Tavoy // Javi & Kaleb // Yoliany & Ajeliz / Pam & Devon & Aiden
Eugenics Research Methods
a. What types of things did families get "scored" on?
b. What was the range of people Eugenicists did their research on?
Alliyah, Brianna // Vivica & Zoey // Cashea & Kendrick // Jesaiah & Jeremaiah
Traits Studied by Eugenecists
a. What types of "human problems" were studied by Eugenicists?
b. What types of traits made up "intelligence" and "behavioral" characteristics?
Caelan & Faith // Kyra & Brady // Ariane & Jalen // Talisa & Nevaeh // Aaron & Arilyn
Flaws in Eugenics Research
a. Desribe each of the 5 fatal flaws of Eugenics Research
Carlos & Chris // Lajuan & Lennox // Genesis & Lydia // Taylor & Anglis
Eugenics Popularization
a. What policies gained popularity through Eugenics & how?
b. What happened in Springfield??
Jacob & Joseph // Yeisylie & Elissa // Ashir & Brayan // Eric & Isa
Eguenics Laws Against Race Mixing (Marriage Laws)
a. What is Miscegenation and why did Eugenicists see it as a problem?
b. Explain Virginia's Racial Integrity Act of 1924
c. What happened in Loving v. Virginia
Janae, Zyhir // Maurice & Anthony // Brian & Alex // Alanie & Angie
Eugenic Sterilization Laws
a. Who was sterilized and why?
b. What happened in the Carrie Buck case and what was its significance?
Erica & Jaylen // Rashel & David // Kristian & Matt // Maddie & Dilean & Deziray // Donte &McKylely
Eugenic Laws Restricting Immigration
a. What different groups pressured for immigration restriction and why?
b. How did Laughlin's efforts help bring about the restrictive Immigration Restriction Act of 1924, and what was the President's reaction to it?
Natalie & Gabe & Brady // Jose & Nathan // Nino & Kinara // Izanaje & Nadhir // Shania & Danielle
