Genes aren’t colorblind

Fight disinformation: Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily newsletter and follow the news that matters.


A new article in AFRICANA.COM suggests that if we choose to ignore genetic differences between groups of people in the interest of political correctness, we’re deceiving ourselves and may be worsening the effects of some serious gene-related health problems around the globe.

Recent Must Reads

1/30 – Gay TV shoved back in closet

1/27 – Feds massively overstate anti-drug spending

1/26 – On environment, AAA gets an F

1/25 – Dubya’s a Dog

Many experts point out that there are undisputable genetic differences that are more than skin deep; some diseases, like heart disease, sickle cell anemia, and Tay-Sachs are much more prevalent in certain ethnic groups because of a genetic predisposition. The notions presented tend to point towards a new, open-minded consensus on genetic groups that moves beyond the problematic “PC” perspective that it’s racist and unacceptable to discuss these genetic differences.

The article also mentions studies showing genetic predispositions for attributes besides diseases, like capacities for athletic performance and visual memory. Still, scientists point out that environment plays a critical role in personal development, claiming that that debunks The Bell Curve’s controversial assertion that IQ varies between races.

Fact:

Mother Jones was founded as a nonprofit in 1976 because we knew corporations and billionaires wouldn't fund the type of hard-hitting journalism we set out to do.

Today, reader support makes up about two-thirds of our budget, allows us to dig deep on stories that matter, and lets us keep our reporting free for everyone. If you value what you get from Mother Jones, please join us with a tax-deductible donation today so we can keep on doing the type of journalism 2024 demands.

payment methods

Fact:

Today, reader support makes up about two-thirds of our budget, allows us to dig deep on stories that matter, and lets us keep our reporting free for everyone. If you value what you get from Mother Jones, please join us with a tax-deductible donation today so we can keep on doing the type of journalism 2024 demands.

payment methods

We Recommend

Latest

Sign up for our free newsletter

Subscribe to the Mother Jones Daily to have our top stories delivered directly to your inbox.

Get our award-winning magazine

Save big on a full year of investigations, ideas, and insights.

Subscribe

Support our journalism

Help Mother Jones' reporters dig deep with a tax-deductible donation.

Donate