Theories Of Genetics And Race

I was pleased to read Phillip Sharp's remarks regarding genetics and complex human behavior [N. Sankaran, "Honorary Degree Recipients' Speeches Focus On Increasing Role Of Research In Society," The Scientist, June 26, 1995]. I infer that he meant his remarks to be in part a response to the recent controversy surrounding the book The Bell Curve and biological determinism in general.

I take arguments like those in The Bell Curve to be a sophistic racial slur. There has been no gene or loci of genes that define intellect. Until such a set of genes is definitively found, those who try to connect intellect and race with genotype are racists masquerading as intellectuals.

Unfortunately, history knows too well of so-called scholars who have forwarded theories that certain people, primarily those of African origin, are inferior. During times of American slavery many theologians posited that the African slaves were inferior by...