Russian billionaire buys James Watson's DNA Nobel Prize for $3 Million, only to return it to him - Polidicks

[QUOTE=Ajacks;46685652]I have not personally read any research directly on the subject but I did have a professor talk about how when the first Homo erectus started migrating out of Africa they were the ones who were more willing to take risks and leave their natural habitat for the unknown, and that the harsh conditions of unknown extreme climates caused the ones who were not smart enough to die off, leaving the survivors to be slightly above average when compared to the ones who were satisfied to stay in their comfortable habitat. I just thought it was an interesting concept.[/QUOTE] i learned this in middle school -__-

[QUOTE=ECrownofFire;46688757]1972 study by Richard Lewontin called "The Apportionment of Human Diversity". He basically found that there are more genetic differences [I]within[/I] races than there are between them.[/QUOTE] And since then a few other studies have case doubt on that: [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Genetic_Diversity:_Lewontin%27s_Fallacy[/url]

[QUOTE=Ajacks;46685652]I have not personally read any research directly on the subject but I did have a professor talk about how when the first Homo erectus started migrating out of Africa they were the ones who were more willing to take risks and leave their natural habitat for the unknown, and that the harsh conditions of unknown extreme climates caused the ones who were not smart enough to die off, leaving the survivors to be slightly above average when compared to the ones who were satisfied to stay in their comfortable habitat. I just thought it was an interesting concept.[/QUOTE] This actually seems reasonable. Intelligence is difficult to measure but I've always thought it strange how people desperately insist that while different ethnic groups can have undeniable differences in physical traits, there is somehow NO GENETIC TRAITS AT ALL affecting psychology and intelligence. Scientifically it seems almost impossible imo. The following is a picture of white people. [sp]Totally not albino blacks.[/sp] [img]http://i.imgur.com/0uyOA.jpg[/img] Race is only skin-deep, right? Evolution affects [B]all[/B] human traits, not just physical ones. My guess is that as our knowledge of genetics increases these differences will become more apperant and difficult to ignore.

[QUOTE=MoonlessNight;46690267]This actually seems reasonable. Intelligence is difficult to measure but I've always thought it strange how people desperately insist that while different ethnic groups can have undeniable differences in physical traits, there is somehow NO GENETIC TRAITS AT ALL affecting psychology and intelligence. Scientifically it seems almost impossible imo.[/QUOTE] tbqh the question of there being a psychological/mental difference is a loaded one, because the only questions anyone should ask are "would those differences actually affect anything" and "who seriously gives a fuck anyway"

[QUOTE=Cone;46690421]"would those differences actually affect anything"[/QUOTE] Probably, if they excist and if you look at a sufficiently large population of people. [QUOTE=Cone;46690421]"who seriously gives a fuck anyway"[/QUOTE] It does have implications. If one group has an edge of just a couple percent in a competitive field that will have a drastic effect one what demographics we should expect. This applies to a much larger extent to differences between men and women, I think. For instance, if a member from either sex will generally preform better in profession due to genetic traits it becomes harmful and infant discriminatory to strive for a 50/50 sex ratio.

[QUOTE=Cone;46690421]"who seriously gives a fuck anyway"[/QUOTE] Curiosity is a strong indicator of intelligence, the driving force to great achievements.

[QUOTE=Robber;46686636][citation needed] How is it so unfathomable that he might be right? I have no idea if he is, I'm no biologist, but just because racist assholes say something doesn't mean it's now not okay to do actual research on that subject. It's a fact that black people have different genes than white people (if you look very closely you can see that the skin actually has a slightly different color).[/QUOTE] The subject has been studied by now and to my knowledge we've seen absolutely no evidence of race having an impact on any measurable intelligence metrics. It also doesn't really fit in with the theory of evolution, so there's no grounds to assume it. Had he suggested this when he got his Nobel Prize it might have been worth looking into. [QUOTE=SlyManx;46686664]"Different genes" is a very broad term. Everyone has different genes. You realize there is more genetic differences between siblings then between white or black people right?[/QUOTE] But there are very obvious differences in genes between white people and black people. You know, skin pigment. Just because the average genetic difference between two individuals of any groups is very high doesn't mean there's no correlations between certain ethnic groups and certain genes.

[QUOTE=Hollosoulja;46685319]Interesting one of histories greatest genius' is a racist. It's amazing that people truly despise Africans. There must be a reason for this outside of xenophobia.[/QUOTE] He's old and from a time it would normal. When he was growing up it would be all around him and considered normal. It doesn't make it right but just let the dude move on, he's going to be dead soon enough like the rest of his generation.

[QUOTE=MoonlessNight;46690267]This actually seems reasonable. Intelligence is difficult to measure but I've always thought it strange how people desperately insist that while different ethnic groups can have undeniable differences in physical traits, there is somehow NO GENETIC TRAITS AT ALL affecting psychology and intelligence. Scientifically it seems almost impossible imo.[/QUOTE] For most of those differences there are pretty clear causes. Black people are black because it protects them from UV radiation. In Africa, this is a good thing, in Europe, it's actually kind of a problem because a little UV radiation is good for you. As for intelligence, I can't think of any reason that would make having less of it a [I]good[/I] thing depending on where you live. It only has disadvantages. (Well, having smaller brains and, as a result, lower energy consumption is useful, but that's historically not been a problem for Africans, and to make a significant dent in energy consumption, you'd have to become something less than human I imagine).

The thing about genetic differences between groups of people is not a question of superiority. These differences manifest themselves in adaptations to the local environment. West Africans have an adaption (sickle cell anemia) that helps them prosper where everybody else would die from malaria. Tibetans and Peruvians have adaptations for high altitude breathing, where most other people would struggle to live. While the genetic differences between two individuals are huge, its pretty much an accepted fact that some groups of people are going to do better than others depending on their adaptations to where they live. Understanding these differences is to move away from prejudice and bigotry.

[QUOTE=Deng;46690158]And since then a few other studies have case doubt on that: [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Genetic_Diversity:_Lewontin%27s_Fallacy[/url][/QUOTE] The facts of the study were never doubted, it's the conclusions drawn that people have an issue with.

[QUOTE=DrTaxi;46690595]As for intelligence, I can't think of any reason that would make having less of it a [I]good[/I] thing depending on where you live. It only has disadvantages.[/QUOTE] Very little is inherently beneficial in an evolutionary sense. Greater intellegence (however you define it) will only develop given the proper environment. And if it develops in several environments there's still other traits to be considers, physical strength for instance.

Why would the Zulus need to upgrade their technology when Impi's have a +25% bonus vs. Gunpowder Units and a first strike? Consider that.

[QUOTE=urbanmonkey;46685372]Well in his defense the article is the one who brought it up[/QUOTE] Well it's because it establishes why he had to sell the prize in the first place.