Introduction
Is it possible to improve the human race through scientific means, or, more specifically, can we breed a better human? These were questions which came to the forefront in the 19th century and prompted the influential movement known as eugenics. While eugenics was a widespread phenomenon, particularly during the early years of the 20th century, its adherents and theories began to fall out of favor in the 1930s as its scientific underpinnings came into question. Under the Nazi regime in Germany, several eugenic principles evolved into policies of the state and resulted in the extermination of millions, and this added to the discredit and suspicion of eugenics. Nevertheless, the movement has never entirely disappeared and has connections to contemporary developments, such as genetic testing and screening for diseases.