Euphenics

/juːˈfɛnɪks/ noun

Definition

The study and practice of improving human genetic characteristics through environmental or medical means (as opposed to selective breeding).

Etymology

From Greek 'eu-' (good) + 'phainein' (to show/appear) + '-ics'. This term was coined in the mid-20th century to distinguish genetic improvement through intervention from the darker eugenics movement.

Kelly Says

Euphenics was proposed as a more ethical alternative to eugenics—instead of deciding who should reproduce, you'd modify genes or environment—but it highlights how language itself gets 'euphemized' when we want to distance new science from shameful historical practices.

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