Genetic Inheritance Quotes
At the time, many scientists and intellectuals thought erroneously—see related quotations—that hybrids would be inferior humans. What makes this quotation memorable is that although he acknowledged that empirically, mixed race people (human hybrids) were inferior, of offered an explanation that did not violate sound genetic science as most others did. He concluded that sociologically whites and black who would intermarry or interbreed would generally not come from the top echelons of either race. Therefore the lower half of each race would more likely produce offspring and provide them with an environment that was not optimum so genetics and nurture worked against the mulatto. At the time that may well have been so, and perhaps until recently it was so forth the majority of crossbreeds of many societies.
Though a great early science, he was ignorant of the many non-genetic factors that could cause deformities in children ranging from nutritional deficiency to improper delivery techniques. Even in the genetic area he had no inkling of mutations where deformities develop and have NOTHING to do with either parent’s genetic history. Last, he did not realize that a large proportion of all pregnancies abort before the mother even realizes that she was pregnant.
