People discovering DNA cause scandal about racism

James Watson, 79, author of the Nobel Prize for discovering the DNA structure, the reputation of science, apologized for his comment in a recent London newspaper about his intelligence. Negro.

The famous Cold Spring Harbor laboratory, where the scientist is working as an advisor, has also halted his role after community protest. In addition, the London Science Museum canceled a ticketing lecture he planned to make yesterday.

Watson had provocative statements about the social applications of science. But some friends said he was not a racist.

James Watson at a Berlin exhibition in October 2004.

A brief profile of Watson in the Sunday Times magazine in London earlier this week quoted him as "inherently sad about the prospects of Africa" for "all of our social policies based on reality. that their intelligence is equivalent to ours - even though all tests don't really say that. "

While hopefully everyone has the same level, "those who have worked with black workers find that is not true," Watson added. He also added that people should not be distinguished by skin color, because "there are many very smart people of color".

The commentary, published on the front page of another British newspaper, The Independent, caused a backlash in the public.

'I think these comments are extremely dangerous and extremely provocative,' said Steven Rose, a neuroscientist and co-founder of the British Association for social responsibility in science, remarks. .

In the United States, the American Federation of Scientists says it is an insult that Watson "chooses to use his unique role to promote racist prejudice, malevolent. and not supported by science ".

"I'm ashamed of what happened," Watson said. "More importantly, I can't understand why I can say things as quoted".

Meanwhile, the Sunday Times said they recorded his words. Watson, who lives in the US, came to the UK this time to promote his new book " Avoid Boring People ".

"I can understand why those who read the text react in such a way. For all who deduce my words into the view of Africa being inferior, I can only sincerely say hello. That's not what I want to express. More importantly, I think, there's no scientific evidence for that, " he said.

Due to the scandal, he canceled his tour of the book tour and returned to America.

T. An