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  • The 20% Rule

    As an academic scientist, I have noticed (totally anecdotally, no formal study, but one should be done) that science departments with no women - most often departments such as physics, geology, computer science - are desperate to hire women. The few women coming up for positions in those fields have to beat back offers, because universities know ...
    Posted to The Dismal Science by Biotunes on June 7, 2009

  • Why not test parents?

    While Saletan makes some valid points on how much we should depend on genetic tests and measuring potential success, I suggest a better predictor: parents. I am no scientist but after many years of observation (in places such as buses or the local supermarket), I suspect that there is a strong correlation between the quality of the parent-child ...
    Posted to Human Nature by johnsopinion on May 5, 2009

  • Blacks have striking genetic diversity, study finds

    I thought your response to the race = family argument was particularly interesting considering the latest study to come out on the striking genetic diversity of Africans. African, American, and European researchers worked together for over 10-years to put together the largest-ever study of African genetic data—more than four million genotypes. ...
    Posted to Human Nature by dakyle on May 4, 2009

  • Another approach to genetic screening

    This may be a misconception on my part, but I believe that first cousin marriages among Pakastanis are arranged marriages. So the time for genetic screening is before the betrothal. I'm sure that the parents who arrange these marriages want healthy grandchildren. They should be encouraged to screen the potential couple to see if it is too risky ...
    Posted to Human Nature by mlr on January 23, 2009

  • What if you had a child with birth defects.

    My first child was born with several birth defects that have resulted in him being paralyzed from the waist down, a brain defect, ventilator dependant and a malformed ear. I found out about some of the defects when I was about 5 months pregnant and I was ok with carrying him to term and I'm so glad I did because he is a joy. The downside is ...
    Posted to Human Nature by Shellycya on January 17, 2009

  • Gattaca Here We Come

    Gattaca is one of my favorite movies, especially because the world it describes is not that far out from the realm of possibility. With technologies like PGD screening, how long will it be before doctors are offering couples embryos that ''will still be you, just the best of you''. I think in 40 years this option will be available to all those ...
    Posted to Human Nature by apechi on January 14, 2009

  • Utilitarian pressures shape intuition: eugenics, death, DUIs

    This is actually a very common pattern. When a technology or practice offers very large benefits to people, even if it its morality is not initially intuitive, folks will tend to come up with arguments in support of it, eventually changing our intuitions. We have seen this happen with clinical definitions of death, in which the benefits of ...
    Posted to Human Nature by Carl S. on January 14, 2009

  • 1600 SAT Gene

    I wonder how long it's going to take before they figure that one out? They'll find a gene or sequence of genes common to students who had perfect standardized test scores. They'll find a few exceptions. They'll find the gene being higher in certain populations. They'll find some with the gene not having perfect scores. It's pretty much ...
    Posted to Human Nature by shamwow on December 7, 2008

  • We need more tests like this

    I think Olympic Gold Medalist Michael Phelps is a great example of how finding the right person for the right sport can me monumental for everyone. Before he started swimming he was flopping around on a lacrosse field not doing very well. Now he has won eight gold medals and has lots of money and fame for he and his family. I think we need more ...
    Posted to Human Nature by inferno510 on December 2, 2008

  • The Rights of the Resurrected

    What bothers me about the prospect of ''bringing to life'' a Neanderthal is not that we would be selectively modifying nearly-Human DNA, but the prospect of the terrible life that poor Neanderthal would lead. After all, if there is a good chance he or she will be able to speak or understand language, then there is also a very good chance that he ...
    Posted to Human Nature by Adantigus on November 25, 2008
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