Fury at DNA pioneer's theory: Africans are less intelligent than Westerners

[Ripsnort]

For Cod's sake, I don't want to discuss what YOU think of his analogy that Africans in particular are less intelligent than Westerner's. This thread would be closed instantly.

I would like to hear your comments of whether genetic testing can actually determine this among races? Could it be possible that not all races have equal intelligence?

DNA pioneer theorizes that Africans are less intelligent than Westerners
http://news.independent.co.uk/sci_tech/article3067222.ece

Judging by RLE, I would say that I have not found that any race is more or less intelligent than others. Certain cultures are definately more intelligent than others, but I've not found that to be the case in race, by my real life experiences.

[Yeager]

I work with a "african" american and the guy is plenty smarter than me.

Its all about culture and whether you have access to an education.....

[GtoRA2]

Originally posted by Ripsnort

I would like to hear your comments of whether genetic testing can actually determine this among races? Could it be possible that not all races have equal intelligence?

 

It would be interesting to see a study done, but in todays PC society the idea is so un PC to even sugest there could be a difference you would never get the funding, and no one would believe your results if they showed anything.

[Dichotomy]

sounds like a load of utter rubbish to me

[Ripsnort]

Originally posted by GtoRA2
It would be interesting to see a study done, but in todays PC society the idea is so un PC to even sugest there could be a difference you would never get the funding, and no one would believe your results if they showed anything.

I certainly agree, NO one would fund this, short of David Duke!

[Shuffler]

I agree... I do not believe there is any intelligence differences that are race related. I have met folks from all races that are extremely intelligent. I have also met folks from all races with an IQ 1 point lower than a stump.

I'd like to see the study and how it was performed. I'd also like to see how the subjects were chosen and where they were from.

Sounds more like someone trying to show some results for all the Grant money they received... lol

[Hortlund]

There is a twin study done that shows that there are indeed differences between the races.

This is however horribly un-pc, so it is mostly ignored and most people pretend it doesnt exist. Either that, or they try to shift the discussion into "what is race/there is no such thing as race".

But, nevertheless, there is a twin study done that shows that there are intelligence is not only environmental, there is also a genetic variable.

[moot]

It's not junk science.  Neuroscientists have said it too, but I don't have any refs for that, sorry
Not everyone is equal at everything, it's a pretty varied landscape.  The problem is probably made worse by the exact inequalities going over average joe's head, and most people unable to cope with the idea (accurate understanding or not).

[AWMac]

Redheads will eventually Rule the World!

Live with it!



Mac

[Holden McGroin]

Since all our DNA is African, how can this study possibly be correct?

[Hortlund]

Originally posted by Holden McGroin
Since all our DNA is African, how can this study possibly be correct?

See class, this is an example of the "there is no such thing as race"-argument. Notice how it doesnt adress the twin-study or its findings at all, instead it seeks to divert the attention of the reader to something different and irrelevant to the discussion.

This is also known as the Chewbacca-defense.

[deSelys]

I don't see why not. Statistically, black people are better than white people at some sports (i.e. running 100m) because their muscles are a bit different. Why wouldn't it be the same with the brain?

For an individual tho, it doesn't mean much: even if the smartest people are white (like the fastest runners are black), there are a lot of black people who have a higher IQ than me.

[Ripsnort]

Originally posted by deSelys
I don't see why not. Statistically, black people are better than white people at some sports (i.e. running 100m) because their muscles are a bit different. Why wouldn't it be the same with the brain?

For an individual tho, it doesn't mean much: even if the smartest people are white (like the fastest runners are black), there are a lot of black people who have a higher IQ than me.

Link to bold part?

[Stang]

You can disagree with the guy, but to flat out dismiss the question without any scientific pursuit is utter PC rubbish.  

Maybe Nilsen truly is smarter than us all.

[Tac]

Originally posted by Holden McGroin
Since all our DNA is African, how can this study possibly be correct?

Its originally African but you need to remember also that thousands upon thousands of years after the African ancestors migrated their DNA also changed in minute ways in order to survive.

How do you think the different races came to be? Its all adaptations to survive in the enviroment. 'whites' most likely are white because that was the best adaptation to survive in the ice-locked european region during the ice age... the inuit/eskimos facial region adapted significantly to survive in the brutal cold of the artic... people from india and the middle east are 'brown'ish as this was the best way to deal with their enviroment.

And that is just external changes... who knows what internal differences developed? For the sake of argument, think which group has the highest chance of having had the most changes in their brain in order to survive: those in a warm tropical climate or those in cold climates & limited in resources?