What was Carrie Buck's significance in the history of genetics?
A) She was a famous advocate for eugenics.
B) She became the first woman geneticist.
C) She was sterilized after the US Supreme Court determined she was feebleminded.
D) She discovered how to genetically modify corn to be resistant to herbicides.
E) She is the author of the first biography of Gregor Mendel.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Carrie Buck was a woman who was sterilized by the state of Virginia after the US Supreme Court case of Buck v. Bell determined that she was feebleminded and therefore a threat to society's gene pool. This case set a legal precedent for eugenic sterilization in the United States and was a result of the widespread belief in eugenics, an idea that aimed to improve the genetic quality of the human population by selective breeding and sterilization of those deemed unfit. While Buck was not significant in terms of contributing to the field of genetics, her case has had a lasting impact on the history of genetics and eugenics.

What Was Carrie Buck's Significance in the History of Genetics