Scientist Blasted for Racism Has Black Genes

Watson said blacks less intelligent than whites
By Jane Yager,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 10, 2007 7:01 AM CST
Scientist Blasted for Racism Has Black Genes
US scientist and DNA discoverer James Watson poses for photographers behind a model of the 'DNA Double Helix', which was discovered by Watson and Francis Crick at an exhibition in Berlin in this Monday, Oct. 11, 2004 file photo. Watson scientist who won the Nobel Prize for co-discovering the molecular...   (Associated Press)

Nobel laureate James Watson, famous for co-discovering DNA and infamous for his theory that black Africans are less intelligent than whites, turns out to have a genetic profile with 16 times as many black genes as the average white European, the Independent reports. Watson's genes are said to be comparable to someone with an African great-grandparent.

"It was very surprising to get this result for Jim," said the geneticist who analyzed Watson's DNA. In addition to 16% African genes, tests of the scientist's DNA showed 9% of his genes are Asian. The outcry over Watson's racial theories this year forced him to step down from his long-time position as chancellor of a New York laboratory. (More James Watson stories.)

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