Jewish legacy inscribed on genes?

Los Angeles Times ^ | 4/18/09 | Karen Kaplan

[OldNavyVet]

"Gregory Cochran has always been drawn to puzzles. This one had been gnawing at him for several years: Why are European Jews prone to so many deadly genetic diseases?"

[OldNavyVet]

The article presents a compelling hypothesis involving Darwin's theory of Natural Selection, high IQ levels associated with European Jews, and genetic diseases found in European Jews.

Near the end of the article, an "easy" test is proposed.

[Hoosier-Daddy]

Inbreeding. Not too many people converting to Judaism in old Europe, so the genetic pool was limited. Also, I would imagine the Jews had to live by their wits, being considered outsiders. Being intelligent would be a definite plus, marriage-wise.

[samson1097]

"Scientists are increasingly finding that propensities for human behaviors -- for addiction, aggression, risk-taking and more -- are written in our genes. But the idea that some groups of people are inherently smarter is troubling to many. Some scientists say it has such racist implications it's unworthy of consideration."

What I find troubling is that scientist allow their personal views to interfere with data. With all the the Globull Warming stuff, I wrote them off as liberals who would lie to get their own way (and I suppose "liberal" by itself would have worked). The idea seems pretty simple to me, and could very well have merit. Any scientist who would refuse to investigate something - anything - based on his feelings of the potential results should be ashamed of themselves.

The idea doesn't seem that crazy to me. Some people are really smart, some aren't. If you have groups where inteligence is valued and there is a high level of inter-breeding (relative to current standards), you would expect that group to become smarter over time.

[chuck_the_tv_out]

theorists should stfu about Jewish genes & Darwin, in my humble opinion

Someone else was obsessed with Jews & Darwin

On the plus side though, they have a very low rate of cervical cancer, for... mechanical reasons.

[EQAndyBuzz]

I have a theory on why Jews have such high IQ’s.

From an early age my wife and I ingrained in our kids that you go to school and work hard. You come home from school and do your homework. You read one book a week. You become curious about how things work. You learn to play an instrument.You play a sport. You enjoy your family and friends. You obey the law.

Finally, you believe that each morning a higher being is giving you the opportunity to be whatever you want to be.

[chuck_the_tv_out]

“Finally, you believe that each morning a higher being is giving you the opportunity to be whatever you want to be”

And that’s the key. A disproportionately high percentage of children from real Christian families are high achievers too.

[sten]

But the idea that some groups of people are inherently smarter is troubling to many. Some scientists say it has such racist implications it's unworthy of consideration.

yet those same scientists would have no problem saying certain groups are more athletic then others.

factoring in liberal bias and their desire to never offend certain groups, that let's you know the answer to the first question

meanwhile... is political affiliation a race? because all the libtards i run into are just plain stupid

[Frank_2001]

You are both right! And let’s not forget a married mother and father who can provide love and discipline.

[Bob017]

“theorists should stfu about Jewish genes & Darwin, in my humble opinion

Someone else was obsessed with Jews & Darwin”

They also noted a link between smoking and cancer, perhaps that research should be avoided too?

Anyway, you’re making a ridiculous ‘slippery slope’ argument. The Nazis actually banned IQ tests because Jews tended to do well on them. They had it in for them regardless of what science said.

[chuck_the_tv_out]

““theorists should stfu about Jewish genes & Darwin, in my humble opinion

Someone else was obsessed with Jews & Darwin”

They also noted a link between smoking and cancer, perhaps that research should be avoided too?”

Totally different. That research has a point, an outcome.

Yes, some things should be left totally alone. What is the possible good outcome of it? Same goes for most research into the brain. Most research into psychology and the brain is used to control and manipulate. They should leave some things alone. Just because we can doesn’t mean we should.

[Bob017]

“Yes, some things should be left totally alone. What is the possible good outcome of it? Same goes for most research into the brain. Most research into psychology and the brain is used to control and manipulate.”

You could say that about sociological research which suggests group inequality is purely due to discrimination. This results in resentment and blame on those who are presumed to have ‘privilege’. There are numerous examples of successful groups who were persecuted because their success is blamed on some unfair advantage (Armenian Jews, Chinese in Malaysia, Kulaks in Russia etc).

As long as policy makers look at group inequality and try to understand it then research into intelligence (which predicts much of this) is unavoidable.

Steven Pinker & Peter Singer (A Darwinian Left) have written about the moral issues.

http://pinker.wjh.harvard.edu/articles/media/2006_06_17_thenewrepublic.html

http://pinker.wjh.harvard.edu/articles/papers/The_Blank_Slate_General_Psychologist.pdf

[onedoug]

The Jews send forth doctors and medical theorists who will likely find ways of preventing genetic damage to future generations in general.

Muslims however, mainly sit on their hands and complain about their self-imposed plight, and blow themselves up.

It seems a fair comparison.

[RFEngineer]

“Most research into psychology and the brain is used to control and manipulate. They should leave some things alone.”

And some people are better at it than others.