Ok, I can’t hold back on the cognitive elite post. In America, science/eng is for losers. Period. Of course, I speak from the biotech/biology point of view, and this is the group to which most of my following comments will apply. However, I believe that my comments largely apply to chemists, engineers and computer people […]

Jdt in the comments brings up some issues with genetic weapons that I’d like to address because they contain common misperceptions: 1) A bioweapon targeted at a specific ethnic group wouldn’t necessarily require “gene variants that are ONLY present in particular ethnic groups”.–Yes it would. Otherwise you’re just as likely to slaughter your own people […]

Ok, I’m going to comment on the genetic weapons post because, well, I’m a card-carrying Molecular Biologist. (Although now I’m converting into a Capitalist, and hopefully soon, a Plutocrat–my new boss says he’d like to convert me to paid, full-time by July:) (knock on wood) A genetic weapon targeted to a particular ethnic group is […]

Well, I scored an internship at a venture cap firm in San Francisco. So, I don’t know how much I’ll be around, I need to impress so that I can get a job somewhere by fall, when my savings will run out. (I don’t want to have to sell my stocks). I’d just like to […]

Well, the comments about “group evolutionary strategies” led me to think a little. I don’t think this is a new idea, but what are the effects, if it’s a valid hypothesis, on welfare states? In other words, welfare states do their best(?) in countries like Sweden, it seems, where the population is nearly ethnically homogenous. […]

Well, returned from my interview. Mostly “fit” questions. So, I probably flunked because of my lousy personality;). I notice that Beyonce Knowles is now considered “hefty,” and I’m supposed to stand up for my mixed sistahs. Clearly, I wish that all American women were as overweight as Ms. Knowles. One observation. I’ve noticed in repeated […]

I’m flying out to Boston tonight for a job interview. Apologies to Beantown bloggers, but I’m going to be anti-social this visit and decline to go out. Three reasons for this: 1) it’s a red-eye flight, so Sunday I’ll be groggy and going to bed early, 2) I’ll be prepping for the interview as much […]

In the review mentioned below, the author mentions Gould’s “spandrel argument” for the occurrence of “by-products” of evolutionary processes–i.e. the ability of humans to play chess is not a gene that has been selected for, it is the by-product of spacial reasoning: “Snails build their shells by winding a tube around an axis of coiling. […]

What I’ve been saying….does it benefit minorities to be admitted to colleges they don’t do well in? “Preferential admissions keep drawing many insufficiently prepared blacks and Hispanics onto selective campuses where their chances of succeeding drop dramatically. In what sense is this a progressive idea?” Razib adds: And why would university presidents care about graduation […]

From the journal Cell (one of the holy Trinity of journals…at least to biologists), we have the following article on the BDNF gene (subscription required). A juicy excerpt for our crew of bloggers: “Our results also speak to a current debate about the genetics of human intelligence. Specific cognitive abilities are partially correlated, and the […]

How many euphemisms for “fat” can you spot in this article on “young and chubby” chicks? “chubby,” “curvy,” “zaftig,” “healthfully big,” “rounded feminine beauty ideal,””larger feminine form,” “full-figured,” “voluptuous,” “natural body type.” Ok. Reality check. Five-foot-five and 200 pounds is FAT. You’re not a “natural body type;” you’re not just big-boned. You’re FAT. One girl […]

Scientific American has a little article on suicide. Some quotations: “I’m not saying that suicide is purely biological, but it starts with having an underlying biological risk.” What’s the biological risk? “At a conference of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology in 2001, Arango reported that the brains of people who were depressed and died by […]

For those of you who have read some of my comments and posts, you know I’m desperately seeking employment as I wrap up grad school. I’d prefer a job in strategic/management consulting for biotechnology/pharmaceutical companies or in the analysis of equities in those categories. If you’re in that field, or know someone who is and […]

While perusing another of my favorite blogs, littlegreenfootballs, I came across a link to this article. The author writes about the psychological trauma of growing up in the PLO-controlled areas of the West Bank/Gaza. An excerpt: “Survival in such a culture necessitates some numbing. But this psychological component might be insignificant relative to the neurobiological […]

Hey loyal readers. Razib et al have graciously decided to let me post on here occasionally. I’m a biochemist by training but hopefully will be moving on to other, more profitable pursuits in the near future. Happy New Year to those following the Western calendar:) [Dave, remember to select “Publish”-I assumed that you made a […]