Impaired or abnormal development of an organism or tissue; defective or incomplete formation, especially in reproduction or heredity.
From Greek dys- (bad, abnormal) + genesis (origin, birth, formation). The term describes when normal developmental processes go wrong, resulting in incomplete or malformed structures or organisms.
Dysgenesis covers everything from birth defects to why some plants produce sterile seeds. It's a foundational concept in developmental biology, explaining how minor changes in the blueprint of life can cause major consequences.
Etymologically tied to eugenics frameworks (dys- = bad + genesis = origin); used to pathologize entire populations, disproportionately affecting women of color and disabled women.
Reserve for narrow medical contexts (e.g., gonadal dysgenesis); avoid in discussions of population genetics or human variation without explicit rejection of eugenic framing.
["atypical development","developmental variation"]
Eugenic pseudoscience denied women agency over reproduction and bodies. Current medical use of dysgenesis terminology should be decoupled from harm-justifying historical framing.
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