Watson Promotes Preventative Eugenics
Last week Dr. James D. Watson, the co-discoverer of the DNA structure, gave a very provocative talk at Harvard University where he recommended that the world embark on a program of preventative eugenics to eliminate the schizophrenia gene. He also suggested that mathematicians shouldn’t have children with other mathematicians.
I have a friend who was at the talk. She was shocked. But she was also surprised that nobody covered the talk.
Well, in today’s Harvard Crimson there is a brief article about Watson’s statements.
“I like to believe that we could find the right drug,” said Watson, who was part of the team that discovered the double-helix structure of DNA. “But my son can’t take care of himself…[we should] fight against genetic injustice.”
Apparently, Dr. Watson wishes that his son was never born.
Keep Reading
Most Popular

Anti-aging drugs are being tested as a way to treat covid
Drugs that rejuvenate our immune systems and make us biologically younger could help protect us from the disease’s worst effects.

A quick guide to the most important AI law you’ve never heard of
The European Union is planning new legislation aimed at curbing the worst harms associated with artificial intelligence.

It will soon be easy for self-driving cars to hide in plain sight. We shouldn’t let them.
If they ever hit our roads for real, other drivers need to know exactly what they are.

Crypto is weathering a bitter storm. Some still hold on for dear life.
When a cryptocurrency’s value is theoretical, what happens if people quit believing?
Stay connected

Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review
Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.