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DNA Scientist Apologizes for Racial Uproar

Watson says he's "mortified," doesn't think Africa is inferior

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 18, 2007 7:50 PM CDT

(Newser) – DNA pioneer James Watson apologized today for comments in which he implied that white people were smarter than black people, the AP reported. "I am mortified about what has happened," said Watson, who helped discover the structure of DNA but whose recent words brought international condemnation and scorn. "I cannot understand how I could have said what I am quoted as having said."

The Guardian quoted Watson, 79, as saying that he feared for Africa because, while he wished all races were equal, "people who have to deal with black employees find this is not true." Today, Watson backtracked. "To all those who have drawn the inference from my words that Africa, as a continent, is somehow genetically inferior, I can only apologize unreservedly. That is not what I meant."

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...
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,...   (Associated Press)
This photo, supplied by Knopf, shows James Watson, author of  Avoid Boring People
This photo, supplied by Knopf, shows James Watson, author of "Avoid Boring People   (Associated Press)
Professor James Watson, co-discoverer of DNA structure,  at the new Wellcome Collection in London, Wednesday June 20, 2007. The Wellcome Collection is a new 30 million pound (44.4 million euro/US$59.6 million) visitor attraction, it combines three contemporary galleries together with a library, to promote visitors with insight into...
Professor James Watson, co-discoverer of DNA structure, at the new Wellcome Collection in London, Wednesday June 20, 2007. The Wellcome Collection is a new 30 million pound (44.4 million euro/US$59.6...   (Associated Press)
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