What does dysgenics mean?
Definitions for dysgenics
dɪsˈdʒɛn ɪksdys·gen·ics
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word dysgenics.
Princeton's WordNet
dysgenics, cacogenicsnoun
the study of the operation of factors causing degeneration in the type of offspring produced
Wikipedia
Dysgenics
Dysgenics (also known as cacogenics) is the decrease in prevalence of traits deemed to be either socially desirable or well adapted to their environment due to selective pressure disfavoring the reproduction of those traits.The adjective "dysgenic" is the antonym of "eugenic". In 1915 the term was used by David Starr Jordan to describe the supposed deleterious effects of modern warfare on group-level genetic fitness because of its tendency to kill physically healthy men while preserving the disabled at home. Similar concerns had been raised by early eugenicists and social Darwinists during the 19th century, and continued to play a role in scientific and public policy debates throughout the 20th century. More recent concerns about supposed dysgenic effects in human populations have been advanced by the controversial psychologist Richard Lynn, notably in his 1996 book Dysgenics: Genetic Deterioration in Modern Populations, which argued that a reduction in selection pressures and decreased infant mortality since the Industrial Revolution have resulted in an increased propagation of deleterious traits and genetic disorders. In popular culture, concerns about dysgenics have also formed the basis for speculative fiction, notably the 2006 film Idiocracy. Despite these concerns, genetic studies have shown no evidence for dysgenic effects in human populations.
ChatGPT
dysgenics
Dysgenics is the study or belief in the deterioration of genetic qualities, often due to social factors that impact reproduction and survival rates. It is often associated with theories of reduced fitness or degradation of a population or species over time, due to perceived unfavorable traits being passed on or preserved. It can also refer to policies, behaviors, or trends that are thought to lead to such deterioration.
Wikidata
Dysgenics
Dysgenics is the study of factors producing the accumulation and perpetuation of defective or disadvantageous genes and traits in offspring of a particular population or species. Dysgenic mutations have been studied in animals such as the mouse and the fruit fly. The term dysgenics was first used as an antonym of eugenics—the social philosophy of improving human hereditary qualities by social programs and government intervention.
Matched Categories
Usage in printed sourcesFrom:
- [["1921","11"],["1922","3"],["1923","2"],["1924","4"],["1925","2"],["1926","11"],["1927","1"],["1929","3"],["1930","2"],["1931","4"],["1932","1"],["1934","2"],["1935","6"],["1939","3"],["1941","4"],["1943","7"],["1944","1"],["1948","1"],["1949","1"],["1952","1"],["1953","5"],["1954","1"],["1955","1"],["1956","3"],["1958","2"],["1959","4"],["1960","6"],["1961","4"],["1963","2"],["1965","1"],["1967","3"],["1968","7"],["1969","4"],["1970","5"],["1971","14"],["1972","7"],["1973","19"],["1974","29"],["1975","52"],["1976","22"],["1977","40"],["1978","17"],["1979","3"],["1980","40"],["1981","9"],["1982","12"],["1983","34"],["1984","15"],["1985","23"],["1986","18"],["1987","5"],["1988","10"],["1989","68"],["1990","9"],["1991","7"],["1992","20"],["1993","12"],["1994","8"],["1995","32"],["1996","40"],["1997","75"],["1998","21"],["1999","27"],["2000","20"],["2001","31"],["2002","89"],["2003","27"],["2004","47"],["2005","93"],["2006","24"],["2007","33"],["2008","45"]]
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of dysgenics in Chaldean Numerology is: 1
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of dysgenics in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6
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"dysgenics." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 8 Feb. 2025. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/dysgenics>.
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