MCTThe Washington University Genome Sequencing Center issued a public response on its Web site yesterday in response to controversial comments on race and intelligence made by James Watson, the biologist who discovered the structure of DNA along with Francis Crick.
Watson, who shared the 1962 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins, recently suggested a genetic difference in intelligence between Africans and non-Africans.
Watson later retracted and apologized for his statement, stating that there was no scientific basis for his claims of genetic inferiority by race. Several days after, he resigned from his post at Cold Spring Harbor National Laboratory.
The Genome Sequencing Center’s (GSC) online statement opposed Watson’s original claims.
“Based on our collective extensive training and experience in biology and genetics, we do not support any notion of intellectual inferiority based on race, ethnicity, or gender,” read part of the statement. “Furthermore, we know of no scientific evidence that demonstrates that this is the case.”
Allan Larson, professor of biology, similarly rejected those notions of race and intelligence.
“[Watson’s] statement is a personal prejudice that in my opinion has no validity that even as a scientific hypothesis could be tested,” said Larson.
Larson also questioned the existence of any evidence that could be called genetic intelligence, and suggested that the statements were rooted in personal prejudice and were without any scientific validity.
“What does he even mean by ‘intelligence’?” asked Larson. “My impression is that the statement was illogical and a personal prejudice and he refers to it as if it’s something measurable. He’s making statements about cultures that are variable and probably have different ideas of intelligence. There is no possibility of a scientific basis for his claims.”
Will Ross, director of the Office of Diversity Programs, and assistant at the University School of Medicine, took a similar stance on the matter.
“There is absolutely no evidence to support that sort of correlation; it’s been a pseudo-science by the likes of The Bell Curve,” said Ross. “It really sets this whole issue of race and intelligence back when anyone makes a statement like that; it’s so unsubstantiated. I’m hoping that salient minds prevail and recognize this is an issue not supported by science,” he said.
Ross added that while the University seeks different perspectives, Watson’s comments were not acceptable in any institution of higher education.
“While we do promote an understanding of difference, there has to be an intolerance of things that are hateful and only serve to perpetuate stereotypes, which was the case with Dr. Watson,” he said. “Any university that prides itself on multiculturalism would not allow these comments to go unchecked.”
According to the St. Louis American, a Missouri newspaper targeted to African Americans, the name “watson” was dropped from University e-mail addresses.
The original e-mail servers for the GSC were named “watson” and “crick”-and so e-mail addresses would end in @watson.wustl.edu or @crick.wustl.edu-but over time the GSC has accumulated many servers. The current e-mail server is named “genome.”
Richard Wilson, professor of genetics and director of the GSC, stressed that dropping “watson” from the e-mail server was not a direct effect of Watson’s statements. Rather, the name has simply been disappearing over time.
“In large places they [e-mail addresses] tend to migrate,” said Wilson. “Very early in our days, Watson was the name of one of our servers, and it hasn’t been for many years. The e-mail addresses take time to change and it’s slowly going away. People can make the changes themselves; it’ll probably go away by itself.”
Ross also noted that the issue with the e-mail server at the GSC was not directly related to Watson’s recent comments.
“Wilson made an internal response, which speaks for itself,” he said. “There are larger issues than an e-mail server.”
To read the GSC Statement on Race and Genetics, go to the GSC website.