I am very surprised to hear of the contents of the speach made at the genome campus, in 2001? If he really said all that why wasn’t a big fuss made then and there, why has it taken so long?

Any archives of that lecture?

Sarah is right. I have attended a few speeches given by Watson, and there was one in particular that he gave about 6 years ago, where he literally endorsed the work of Hitler - that included sterilising Jewish women with a view of Hitler generating a “superior race” of people with blonde hair and blue eyes in Germany. It was a horrible experience to listen to him. This speech was given to an audience of several hundred at a very famous UK genome campus. I could not stay for the whole talk as I had to leave after the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. After this I made a mental note not to attend anymore speeches given by this man. I am very pleased that it has caught the attention of the media and that he has been asked to stop giving these types of speeches.

Africa’s problems are complex but they are not due to genetics. Many African countries consist of populations of people that are from different tribes and each triobe speaks a different language. Eg Sierra Leone a small West African country with a population of about 4 million, over ten tribes each tribe speaking a different language. Who is going to govern who? Africa has experienced apartheid up until quite recently, the slave trade was abolished only 200 years ago, Many African countries are recovering from colonisation. And Ghana has been an excellent example under Jerry Rawlings of how an African country can be very progressive.

In terms of genetics, Africans have the most biological variation than any other race on the planet - this is a measurable scientific fact. If this type of information if used in a scientific context ie comparing the genetic make-up between various races and various individuals we would be able to know how genetic variation in the human population correlates with biology. With useful clinical applications:-a view to finding better treatments and lifestyles for people with different biology. With the human genome out for some time now- I think Watson, being such a famous scientist and having studied and worked in very reputable research organisations, should have a much more responsible role in society than saying black people should not be given jobs with responsibility. Watson living in US with the likes of the Oprah Winfrey - one the richest women in the world (a self made billionaire), Condleezza Rice, Kofi Annan. What colour are these people? How much responsibilty do they have in their jobs? I think Watson is huge EMBARASSMENT to science and to the research establishments that he is currently linked with.

There may be a genetic component to intelligence

Of course. As I said, however, the evidence suggests that environmental factors are massively dominant. In any case, I’d suggest anyone wanting to understand intelligence should focus first on characterising the phenotype. As Asam rightly points out, there’s huge amounts still to do in there.

Ray continued,

How can we have an honest, scientific debate on the issue if it so politically-charged?

Well, Watson is the one that brought the level of debate down with his idiotic, dishonest, anti-scientific comments. He’s trying to backtrack from these now; I think it’s a bit late for that. His reputation is now badly damaged.

Additionally, as Asam alluded to in his comments, considering only the scientific aspects of this is not enough - you have to also consider social, ethical and political aspects of the debate too. Something that Waton seems incapable of doing.

@Sarah

You might well be right. Of course, this isn’t the first time Watson has expressed bigotted views e.g. his comments about diagnostics for homosexuality in unborn babies that suggest he wants to rid the world of gay people. So, while he may be going senile, I suspect also that he just isn’t that bright.

He is just absolutely ridiculous!