Control: the dark history and troubling present of eugenics

Throughout history, people have sought to improve themselves, and society, by eliminating disease. They want to enhance desirable qualities in their children or control populations with rules about who can procreate and who can live. Join Adam Rutherford as he discusses how new techniques in genetics and gene editing prompt the urgently needed discussions about improving the 'quality' of the population. And how the ideas underlying eugenics are not merely historical.

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Speakers

Dr Adam Rutherford is a science writer and broadcaster. He studied genetics at University College London, and during his PhD on the developing eye, he was part of a team that identified the first genetic cause of a form of childhood blindness.

He has written and presented many award-winning series and programmes for the BBC, including the flagship weekly Radio 4 programme 'Inside Science' and 'The curious cases of Rutherford & Fry' with Dr Hannah Fry.

Location

The Royal Institution 21 Albemarle Street London W1S W1S

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