The DNA of Misconceptions

So, this intrigued me from the beginning because it dispelled some misconcpetions I had about James Watson and, well, scientists in molecular biology in general. You hear the name “James Watson” and you immediately think of DNA, or is that just me? I mean, this man (along some guy named Crick) discovered the structure of DNA which, many would argue, has literally changed the world, right? I saw him as a dry, boring, scientific type; a person with whom a non-scientific conversation could never happen.

Well, I was wrong. This guy is funny and smart, which happen to be my 2 favorite character traits. He pushes the envelope and tends to step on toes. He's controversial, mouthy, sarcastic and, well, downright rude sometimes. Needless to say, I was intrigued.

Here are some nice examples:

"Stupidity is a disease and the ‘really stupid’ bottom 10% of people should be cured.” He has also suggested that beauty could be genetically engineered, saying “People say it would be terrible if we made all girls pretty. I think it would be great.”

“If you could find the gene which determines sexuality and a woman decides she doesn’t want a homosexual child, well, let her.” (I don't fundamentally agree with this statement however, I do agree with him having the balls to actually say it.)

“Whenever you interview fat people, you feel bad, because you know you’re not going to hire them.”

"One could not be a successful scientist without realizing that, in contrast to the popular conception supported by newspapers and mothers of scientists, a goodly number of scientists are not only narrow-minded and dull, but also just stupid." (Now that's just funny.)

While speaking at a conference in 2000, Watson had suggested a link between skin color and sex drive, hypothesizing that dark-skinned people have stronger libidos. His lecture, complete with slides of bikini-clad women, argued that extracts of melanin — which give skin its color — had been found to boost subjects’ sex drive. He finished up with this:

“That’s why you have Latin lovers. You’ve never heard of an English lover. Only an English patient.”

So, as you can see, Watson has had his fair share of critics. He claims that any statements made were in some way connected to genetics and he always aimed to prove the point that genetic manipulation can alter things such as weight, sexuality and appearance. For more information or to, god forbid, form your own opinion, check out this article. Let me know what you think.