# Who Chooses the Qualities of Future Humans by Robert L. Sinsheimer > “The horizons of the new eugenics are in principle boundless—for we should have the potential to create new genes and new qualities yet undreamed. But of course the ethical dilemma remains. What are the best qualities, and who shall choose?” > **— Robert L. Sinsheimer**, *1969, “The Prospect of Designed Genetic Change,” Engineering and Science* ## Sources and Context - **Primary full text:** [Caltech's April 1969 *Engineering and Science* publication](https://calteches.library.caltech.edu/2718/), p. 12. Sinsheimer immediately follows the technological possibility with a question about authority over the selection standard; the question is part of the complete quotation, not a later critique supplied by this archive. - **Parallel publication:** [*American Scientist* article record, 57(1), pp. 134–142](https://authors.library.caltech.edu/records/17a7j-rka34). The Caltech version is titled *Prospect of*; the journal version is titled *Prospect for*. ## Related Articles and Collections - **Collection:** [[collections/Simple Reminders|Simple Reminders]] - **Article:** [[articles/We Were Never Going to Make It|We Were Never Going to Make It]] - **Article:** [[articles/Digital Darwinism and the Invisible World of Machine Evolution|Digital Darwinism and the Invisible World of Machine Evolution]] - **Wiki map:** [[wiki/Eugenics|Eugenics]] ## Related Topics - [[wiki/Robert L. Sinsheimer|Robert L. Sinsheimer]] - [[wiki/The Prospect for Designed Genetic Change|The Prospect for Designed Genetic Change]] - [[wiki/Eugenics|Eugenics]] ## Share on Social Media ``` “The horizons of the new eugenics are in principle boundless—for we should have the potential to create new genes and new qualities yet undreamed. But of course the ethical dilemma remains. What are the best qualities, and who shall choose?” — Robert L. Sinsheimer, 1969, The Prospect of Designed Genetic Change https://bryantmcgill.com/simple-reminders-sinsheimer-who-chooses-future-qualities ```