When Charles Davenport published Heredity in Relation to Eugenics in 1911, he advanced his ideas of where genetics would go in the rest of the 20th century. In this volume, a group of prominent scientists take some of Davenport's themes-mental illness, human evolution, nature and nurture-and discuss them in a 21st century context. Davenport's original book is reprinted along with the essays. Contents: Complete facsimile reprint of Heredity in Relation to Eugenics by Charles Davenport; Additional Essays: Preface (Matt Ridley); Davenport Biography (Jan Witkowski); Davenport' s Eugenics (Elof Carlson); Human Variation/Evolution/Founder Effects (Douglas Wallace); Psychiatric Disorders (Daniel Weinberger and David Goldman); Behavioral Disorders (Lindsey Kent and Simon Baron Cohen); Using Genetics (Philip Reilly); Insights from the Human Genome: Genes and Variation (Maynard Olson); Genetics and Equality (Ronald Dworkin); Genetics and Human Nature (Lewis Wolpert).
"In Davenport's Dream, editors Witkowski and Inglis (both, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) have compiled contributions from twelve scholars who analyze current research pertaining to some of Davenport's theories. Is there any indication that some forms of mental illness follow a true Mendelian inheritance pattern? How does mitochondrial DNA contribute to eugenics? A facsimile of Davenport's original work is included. This book would be valuable as a basis for discussions in bioethics or social policy courses."
Choice
"The reappearance of this facsimile volume and accompanying commentary makes an important resource for understanding eugenic thought readily available for historians, scientists, and a newly curious public."
The Quarterly Review of Biology
"The decision by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press to reissue Davenport's classic, but highly problematic, book is a bold one....it forms a valuable contribution to the existing literature on genetics and eugenics."
Metascience
"Th[is] volume, edited by two current members of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Jan Witkowski and John Inglis, is important: well worth reading and well worth having for classroom instruction at any level from high school through graduate school, divinity school, medical school, or law school...because of the essays, I am pleased to recommend the volume to the broadest possible audience.
Science
Perhaps the main message of this book is that we should all learn from Davenport's mistakes and remember that the welfare of the individual should never be sacrificed for a greater vision of spurious societal benefit. Otherwise we run the risk of seeing Davenport's 'dream' evolve into another nightmare."
Human Genetics
"In Davenport's Dream, editors Witkowski and Inglis (both, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) have compiled contributions from twelve scholars who analyze current research pertaining to some of Davenport's theories. Is there any indication that some forms of mental illness follow a true Mendelian inheritance pattern? How does mitochondrial DNA contribute to eugenics? A facsimile of Davenport's original work is included. This book would be valuable as a basis for discussions in bioethics or social policy courses."
Choice
"The reappearance of this facsimile volume and accompanying commentary makes an important resource for understanding eugenic thought readily available for historians, scientists, and a newly curious public."
The Quarterly Review of Biology
"The decision by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press to reissue Davenport's classic, but highly problematic, book is a bold one....it forms a valuable contribution to the existing literature on genetics and eugenics."
Metascience
"Th[is] volume, edited by two current members of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Jan Witkowski and John Inglis, is important: well worth reading and well worth having for classroom instruction at any level from high school through graduate school, divinity school, medical school, or law school...because of the essays, I am pleased to recommend the volume to the broadest possible audience.
Science
Perhaps the main message of this book is that we should all learn from Davenport's mistakes and remember that the welfare of the individual should never be sacrificed for a greater vision of spurious societal benefit. Otherwise we run the risk of seeing Davenport's 'dream' evolve into another nightmare."
Human Genetics
