The next day after spending some time in the Professor's Library and surveying the area around the house, Martin decided to see the Professor.
"Ah, Martin... I was about to call you". The professor said when Martin entered the lab. Then he fell silent studying something, hunched over a microscope, a glass slide under it.
The professor did not say anything for long time. Martin did not know what to do. He thought he better leave the professor to his lab and toys. He turned around to go.
"Tell me Martin, how much of biology do you understand?" the professor said, without taking his eyes off the microscope. "Hmmm... not quite, I had studied some elementary biology in high school. After that I went to do my majors in Physics and Chemistry from UCLA. Whatever I remember of biology is very sketchy." Martin replied.
“Martin, Have you heard of the term Eugenics?"
"Umm... the term appears familiar, weren't Nazis accused of practicing Eugenics or something?" Martin turned his palms upwards in an I-don't-know fashion. Just then Anita entered the lab.
"You not sleeping?" Martin asked.
"Well I didn't get any. I had a vague sense of unease, psychologically. Physically I am ok." Anita didn't want Martin to be worried about her. Then she thought sheepishly, ‘why would she think that?’
The professor continued-" Eugenics is a concept and practice whose goal is to improve the genetic quality of the human populace. In Greek it means 'well-born' or 'true-born'."
“Is it like how we breed some plants and animals like dogs for better genetic quality?" Anita interjected. The professor appeared non-plussed.
"Ya....maybe something similar, but not exactly that".
Recovering, he went on- "It is a social philosophy encouraging the improvement of human genetic traits through the promotion of higher reproduction of those with desired traits- called positive eugenics, and reduced reproduction of those with less-desired or undesired traits called negative eugenics.”
"So, Kevin here is a product of eugenics?" Anita asked with a look of surprise.
"No, No... Don't jump to conclusions. I am coming to that" said the professor a tad irritated. Martin watched the professor intently.
The Professor continued-"Eugenic practices were carried out as far back in history as Ancient Greece. Modern eugenics began recently in the early 20th century. A popular eugenics movement emerged in many countries, including the US and many European nations. Eugenic ideas were advocated across most if not the whole political spectrum. As a result, many nations took up eugenic principles to improve the genetic stock of their citizens. These projects involved both "positive" methods, like encouraging those considered "fit" to reproduce, and "negative" methods like marriage prohibitions, forced sterilization of those considered unfit to reproduce.
(To Be Continued Tomorrow...)
[The complete Book ‘MAN FROM TOMORROW’ can be downloaded at amzn.to/2MSf1ng]
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