Rethink everything we know about genes and identity politics | Adam Rutherford | TEDxGlasgow

Genetics is merely the formal scientific study of sex and inheritance. Genetics is - at best - a science only a century old, we’ve only really begun to get a grasp on how DNA relates to how and who we are in the last 10 years. We’ve been thinking about sex and inheritance for ten thousand years. What this means is that there is a lot of cultural baggage that people carry when it comes to the ideas that genetics is beginning to unpick scientifically. And most of them are wrong.
DNA will not tell you who you are, what tribe you belong to or what country your ancestors came from. Your genes will not reveal whether you are gay or straight, who you will fancy, what foods you should eat, how smart you are, nor how you will die. We’re in a golden age for the science of genetics, but the advent of cheap consumer genomic testing kits - for everything from ancestry to wine preference to skin cream to sporting advice - is hampering the progress we should be making towards a greater public understanding of how DNA is part of our lives. The kits play to our cultural prejudices and base desires for simple answers to complex questions, from the trivial - everyone wants to be a Viking - to the profoundly pernicious, including as justification for racism. We have to rethink how to talk about genetics. With a PhD in Genetics and a degree in evolutionary biology, Adam Rutherford is well known for his BBC Radio 4 flagship science programme ‘Inside Science’, as well as many documentaries, on the inheritance of intelligence, on MMR and autism, human evolution, astronomy and art, science and cinema, scientific fraud, and the evolution of sex. On television, his latest series was The Beauty of Anatomy on BBC4, on the role of the human dissection in art.
Adam also presented the award-winning Horizon: Playing God (BBC2, Jan 2012); The Gene Code (BBC4, Apr 2011); and the award-winning The Cell (BBC4, Sept 2009).
A movie geek, Adam was scientific advisor to Björk’s movie Biophilia Live and worked on World War Z, The Secret Service (2014) and Ex Machina (2015). His critically acclaimed first book, Creation - on the origin and future of life - was published in 2013, and was nominated for the Wellcome Trust Book Prize. He is currently writing his second, and third. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

Пікірлер: 72

  • @katiemarshall4340
    @katiemarshall43407 ай бұрын

    Aw Adam you didn't need to worry, not all Glaswegians are madmen and angry people. Plus you've given us a research into who we should be supporting.

  • @friendlysperg1372
    @friendlysperg13723 жыл бұрын

    The concept of the isopoint doesn't really prove what he's trying to use it to prove, that is, the idea that there are ancestrally distinct populations around the world. The identical ancestors point is simply a mathematical inevitability regarding individual lines of descent. The problem is the concept of "ancestry" and especially in how it relates to ethnicity, doesn't regard specific lines of descent from individuals from history, but rather the relative and proportional amount of your ancestry that can be collectively attributed to historic groups. For example to be ethnically English means to be of Anglo-Saxon ancestry, but that's not to say, being able to trace specific lines of descent to individual Anglo-Saxons, but rather what proportion of you *overall* ancestry can be attributed to those people. A modern Turk might descend from Anglo-Saxons, but ancestry owed to those people will be miniscule in proportion to ancestry owed to central Asian Turkic people. Also the concept of pedigree collapse which he describes near the end of this talk adds another layer of complexity to the subject of "descent", and while yes, A Turk might descend from any individual Anglo-Saxon, the specific person he descends from might only occupy a couple dozen slots in his family tree, compared to millions of slots in an English persons family tree. I think it's disingenuous to use the isopoint as "proof" ancestrally distinct populations don't exist.

  • @stevencarr4002

    @stevencarr4002

    7 ай бұрын

    The concept of isopoint is a bit like explaining to people that they have drunk some of the very same water that Jesus drank. They just don't believe you.

  • @ArthurCowans

    @ArthurCowans

    Ай бұрын

    No

  • @guybrushthreepwood3002
    @guybrushthreepwood30024 жыл бұрын

    Knowing I'm descended from Vikings makes me so happy

  • @lukilladog

    @lukilladog

    4 жыл бұрын

    You must feel special?, lol.

  • @kristerrs

    @kristerrs

    3 жыл бұрын

    I'm a descendant of my brother and sister

  • @petitio_principii

    @petitio_principii

    3 жыл бұрын

    You're also descendant of everyone they've stolen for a living.

  • @guybrushthreepwood3002

    @guybrushthreepwood3002

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@petitio_principii that's fine, I'm off out to do some pillaging this morning 👌

  • @GratiaCountryman

    @GratiaCountryman

    2 жыл бұрын

    In old Norse society, most people were farmers. The term Viking refers to an occupation, not an ethnic group.

  • @noahleith2509
    @noahleith25093 жыл бұрын

    Knowing I'm decedent from Neandertals makes me proud. :)

  • @parthsarthi2667
    @parthsarthi26672 жыл бұрын

    this was amazing adam sir

  • @topgurl9313
    @topgurl93135 жыл бұрын

    thank you, sir. Great presentation

  • @Sheeshening
    @Sheeshening3 жыл бұрын

    18 minutes absolutely wasted. Very sparse content, clickbait title.

  • @stevencarr4002
    @stevencarr40027 ай бұрын

    The concept of isopoint is a bit like explaining to people that they have drunk some of the very same water that Jesus drank. It really doesn't mean anything.....

  • @milesbetrov
    @milesbetrov4 жыл бұрын

    There's some coincidence going on here as the number of people who have disliked this video is the average number of people who turn up to an EDL protest

  • @jo18533

    @jo18533

    3 жыл бұрын

    What country do you live in?

  • @forret

    @forret

    2 жыл бұрын

    And the people who have upvoted this video is the amount of virtue-signallers you need to change a lightbulb

  • @ottovcr
    @ottovcr2 жыл бұрын

    Hack

  • @DieterHageman
    @DieterHageman4 жыл бұрын

    Meanwhile on equality street... How you "calculate" everybody is a viking... I agree if you find an aboriginal who agrees...

  • @petitio_principii

    @petitio_principii

    3 жыл бұрын

    All aboriginal Europeans or people of European ascent have viking ancestry, as he said.

  • @strangetranceoffaith
    @strangetranceoffaith5 жыл бұрын

    He is a wonderful chap but his twitter rant about Jordan Peterson is so selectively funny.

  • @Theactivepsychos

    @Theactivepsychos

    2 жыл бұрын

    I didn’t see this.

  • @hariseldon3786
    @hariseldon37865 жыл бұрын

    Hypergamy breaks down the idea of "iso-points'; I am a geneticist as well and understand evolutionary genetics and social genetics... Adam should probably top up his talk with a more inclusive appraisal rather than taking the more PC approach.

  • @user-jh3oq7wk6s

    @user-jh3oq7wk6s

    4 жыл бұрын

    Well, it pays to play the PC game...

  • @petitio_principii

    @petitio_principii

    3 жыл бұрын

    What actual literature supports this claim? How it would even makes sense that people having twice or thrice as many female ancestors would somehow invalidate the existence of an identical ancestral point somewhere along the line of the species? It doesn't even make sense that it would.

  • @hariseldon3786

    @hariseldon3786

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@petitio_principii Hmm where to begin - how about we begin with one the first claims he makes - that we know the most of what we know about genetics from the study of family histories and the family histories we know most about are the Royal families DAHHHHHHHHHH! Wrong. We have learnt more from "Twin Studies" than we even could or did from the ancestry of Royal families. DAHHHHHHHHHHHH! Second wrongness. We have learnt more from "Longitudinal Studies" (where you take a cohort and follow it through life and study the effects). and DAHHHHHHHHHHHH for the third time he is wrong because both of the two points I have made also involve BEHAVIORAL studies i.e. the confluence of Nature and Nurture and from that we can also see the effects of hypergamy - particularly in the period of pre-1850 when selective forces were much greater. To help you along here is a book that is very readable and I think enlightening: "Blueprint" by Robert Plomin, and another book: "Who We Are and How We Got Here" by David Reich - both authors have impeccable "genetic authorship" credentials. I am not criticizing his whole thesis merely some of his overstated assumptions and conclusions.

  • @tomtimelord7876

    @tomtimelord7876

    3 жыл бұрын

    Why would hypergamy break down the idea of iso-points? Wouldn't it actually shorten the window for a common ancestor?

  • @andyvokes2703
    @andyvokes27034 жыл бұрын

    When they don't like a finding they complicate it. Oh but it's more complicated than that! Go tell Occam.

  • @Clowndestine
    @Clowndestine4 жыл бұрын

    Basically speaking, genetics are in your face. Characteristically, color, cut and clarity defines which mine you are from. If you really think there is no reason for what you are, essentially you are ashamed. No long discussions at a conference table will change what you are. Good, or bad, live with it and join the modern Western world where only freedom makes us all equal. Individuality is the only defense against your very own racism. Yes, you and I are all born racists.

  • @MattJam2011
    @MattJam20115 жыл бұрын

    You will not learn anything from this video it gives no facts whatsoever, it's just some guy blabbering on. Please can we have some actual factual information

  • @BadReligion9

    @BadReligion9

    5 жыл бұрын

    Sure, Matt. This "guy blabbering on" has only a PhD in genetics and has written nearly ten books on the subject. He's also one of the leading figures in the field of genetics. But sure, you got it figured.

  • @MattJam2011

    @MattJam2011

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@BadReligion9 if only he had given us some factual information..his phd in the study of the eye really comes in useful for this TED talk. he needs to give us facts not just SJW personal opinions

  • @cyborg1320

    @cyborg1320

    4 жыл бұрын

    Sorry but no. Not when you invite someone who puts his politic beliefs before his science

  • @petitio_principii

    @petitio_principii

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@MattJam2011 what part you didn't understand well?

  • @forret

    @forret

    2 жыл бұрын

    He is in no way a ‘leading figure’ in genetics 😂 he’s a GCSE student with verbal diarrhoea!

  • @janick01ify
    @janick01ify4 жыл бұрын

    A lot of this guys videos don’t allow comments. I believe it’s because he’s doing his best to avoid facts regarding the genetic differences between populations and IQ. I Can’t blame him, it’s a tough subject for careers to survive. Though this avoidance leads to false evolutionary cultural theory’s. He presupposes population densities are first and foremost. The other presuppositions is we are all equally related. Both are false. We are different, sometimes very different. Of course we should all be treated as individuals instead of putting our group identity first. Only then can we realize MLK dream of being judge on the content of our character and not the color of our skin. Let’s stop this blank slate silliness. So that people become responsible for their life, instead of the world predetermining your future.

  • @Q_QQ_Q

    @Q_QQ_Q

    4 жыл бұрын

    ?

  • @petitio_principii

    @petitio_principii

    3 жыл бұрын

    Nothing in this talk implies in the blank-slate straw-man nor that everyone would have the same IQ. That's nonsense.

  • @oldboygeorge7688

    @oldboygeorge7688

    2 жыл бұрын

    John its because IQ levels are nonsense, education standards and levels aren't equal . Those with better educational institutions will do better simple. Middle class people always out score. IQ tests are misleading because they do not accurately reflect intelligence, according to a study which found that a minimum of three different exams are needed to measure someone's brainpower.

  • @kindnessfirst9670

    @kindnessfirst9670

    2 жыл бұрын

    Populations don't have IQs- individuals do. The average IQ test score of a group of individuals will vary depending on which individuals you choose to include in those groups.

  • @jonaarbakke9633

    @jonaarbakke9633

    Жыл бұрын

    @@kindnessfirst9670 Not even people have IQ. IQ is a score on a test on a given date on a given person. Tomorrow that same test same person gives a different score.

  • @joaniebarc6763
    @joaniebarc67634 жыл бұрын

    Bla bla bla all eurocentric nonsense.

  • @petitio_principii

    @petitio_principii

    3 жыл бұрын

    Nothing there is Eurocentric, it just used some examples based on Europeans to illustrate.

  • @jamesmk2003
    @jamesmk20034 жыл бұрын

    I am proud to be white.

  • @petitio_principii

    @petitio_principii

    3 жыл бұрын

    People proud to be white rather than for individual achievements are ironically perhaps the main thing that white people as a whole have to be ashamed.

  • @jo18533

    @jo18533

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@petitio_principii Why would a white person be ashamed of their ancestry? Are you ashamed of yours?

  • @oldboygeorge7688

    @oldboygeorge7688

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@petitio_principii 100% empty vessels make the most noise.

  • @oldboygeorge7688

    @oldboygeorge7688

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@jo18533 your achievements are what counts are you a decent person? Do you have any values

  • @jo18533

    @jo18533

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@oldboygeorge7688 Yes. White values.