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Did the geneticist Hermann J Muller liaise with Julian Huxley. Both supported soft eugenics in some form.


Yes, Hermann J. Muller and Julian Huxley did indeed have some interactions and shared similar views on certain aspects of eugenics. Both were prominent figures in the early-to-mid 20th century who engaged in discussions about genetics and societal improvement. Hermann J. Muller was known for his work on mutation and the effects of radiation on genetics, and he did advocate for a form of eugenics that focused on improving human populations through scientific understanding of genetics. His version of eugenics was often referred to as "soft eugenics," emphasizing voluntary measures and public health initiatives rather than coercive means. Julian Huxley, an evolutionary biologist and a leading figure in the development of the modern synthesis in evolutionary theory, also supported eugenic ideas, particularly those that emphasized improving human welfare through informed genetic understanding and reproductive choice. He advocated for measures that promoted genetic health without the coercive elements associated with more extreme eugenics. While they had different emphases in their work and ideas—Muller on mutation and genetic variability, and Huxley on broader evolutionary biology—they both contributed to the discourse around genetics and eugenics at the time, and their paths intersected in their professional lives and ideologies.