“(CNN) — The Nobel prize-winning biologist who caused a furor with comments about the intelligence of black people resigned Thursday from his longtime post at a renowned research lab….

Watson was quoted as saying he was “inherently gloomy about the prospect of Africa” because “all our social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the same as ours, whereas all the testing says not really.”

He also asserted there was no reason to believe different races separated by geography should have evolved identically, and that while he hoped everyone was equal, “people who have to deal with black employees find this is not true.”" (Link)

To start, I am not agreeing with what Dr. Watson said, I think it’s horrible, and it has caused a mushroom effect regarding the issue (it was even in my school’s daily newspaper). However, I think it is important to recognize the importance of Watson’s work over his lifetime.

Oddly enough, I am sitting in a biology lecture as a I write this. Watson is credited with discovering the double helix nature of DNA (along with his partner, Crick). All of our knowledge of DNA thus far is because of the work Watson and Crick did years ago. Without them, who knows how far we would be set back in the field of DNA related science. It is a bad way for Watson to end his career, however people have to be accountable for their actions, even if they are famous.

He is a great scientist, but he should keep his opinions on racial issues to himself.

-Justin

[tags]Science, DNA, racism, Nobel prize, jfcapasso[/tags]