High Intelligence and Ashkenazi Genes
Of the new research indicating that there is a correlation between Ashkenazi genes found in that Jewish population and intelligence, many are asking whether or not it might be possible to enhance intelligence using whatever genetic advantage nature has given to Ashkenazi Jews. Jay Hughes writes to the bioethics chat line thusly:Fortunately we will soon have far faster and more ethical ways of enhancing intelligence than persecuting people for several thousand years. But it would certainly be deliciously ironic if gentiles started upgrading themselves with Ashkenazim genes. An anti-Semite's nightmare.
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Before getting all excited about the ethics implications, how about actually making sure the science works? Look at the limits of the sample, the change (or in this case, non change) in median or mean IQ, the expected amount of time selection under low pressure would have to work to cause population shifts posited and the actual time in which the shift was supposed to have occurred. Or just ignore it and write the evolutionary psych folks a free pass on whatever theories they cook up that make for good ethics problems.
- by Ina Roy-Faderman on Jun 20, 2005 at 11:53 PM | link