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Limitations to genetic comparison of populations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 September 2011

J. M. Thoday
J. M. Thoday
Affiliation:
Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge
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Extract

In this Symposium we are to discuss biological and social aspects of race. This is, of course, a tender topic, in dealing with which I feel strongly that we must all take especial care to express our ignorance when we are ignorant. Especially is this so in the most sensitive area of the topic, the question whether or not differences between racial groups in so-called mental abilities have an innate genetic component or not. I hope to convince you that nobody knows the answer to this question, and that in present circumstances it is impossible to know or even to foresee with certainty that it will ever be possible to know. Hence, whoever speaks as if he knows that such a racial difference is genetic, or whoever speaks as if he knows that such a racial difference is not genetic, is showing a bias that cannot be justified by the facts. Both they who say the differences are genetic and they who say they are environmental or cultural are equally prejudiced.

Type
Genetic aspects
Information
Journal of Biosocial Science , Volume 1 , supplement S1: Biosocial Aspects of Race , 1969 , pp. 3 - 14
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1969

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References

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