Abortion justified for 'better babies' (Nobel Prize Winner Says)

The Age (U.K.) ^ | July 6 2003 | Aaron Patrick

[nickcarraway]

James Watson would have aborted his son if a genetic test had been available at the time warning that his child would be born with severe epilepsy.

Declaring "I'm not a sadist", the man who co-discovered DNA said that parents, especially mothers, should have a right of genetic veto over the make-up of their child.

"Any time you can prevent a seriously sick child from being born, it is good for everyone," Dr Watson told The Sunday Age. "Most mothers wouldn't want to have dwarfs."

Dr Watson's views are based on a fierce libertarianism and personal experience. One of his two sons is severely disabled from complications caused by epilepsy, and will soon undergo a type of surgery in Switzerland only done 11 times before.

Problems with his son's health left Dr Watson unable to open the International Congress of Genetics today in Melbourne. Instead he will appear before the conference, which is held every five years, by videotape.

The Nobel Prize winner has a reputation for candour. He was one of the first scientists to talk intimately about the political and personal rivalry in his profession and is open about his dislike of the Catholic Church, government regulation and those who oppose genetic screening.

"Who would be against having better children?" he said. "If it goes wrong and creates a social problem, then maybe you ought to do something about it."

Dr Watson's refusal to oppose what he concedes could lead to eugenics takes him on to sensitive ethical ground.

For instance, he believes abortions are acceptable where a foetus is found to be genetically inclined to homosexuality.

"If they want to, let them," he said. "My wife really wants a grandchild."

Dr Watson said there is likely to be a genetic component to homosexuality, but the major cause may be hormonal surges during pregnancy.

Dr Watson is also an opponent of the Catholic Church, comparing its fight against stem cell research to the Vatican's 1633 prosecution of astronomer Galileo Galilei for postulating that the Earth rotates around the Sun. He says he has never seen a soul in a test tube.

But on the subject of human cloning, his passionate belief in the freedom of science reaches its limit.

"I hope it doesn't happen because it could create havoc with the DNA fingerprint (of society)," Dr Watson says. "Most people wouldn't want to walk around the city knowing there are 50 other people who look like them."

He also disagrees with the dark predictions of the science-fiction film Gattica, in which genetics determine each person's role in society.

[nickcarraway]

If letting his son live is ``sadism,'' why is he against killing him at whatever age he is now?

[nickcarraway]

He says he has never seen a soul in a test tube.

Has he ever ``seen'' a soul in a human being?

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[nickcarraway]

ping

[EggsAckley]

Two words: Stephen Hawkings

[nickcarraway]

ping

[Falcon4.0]

""Most mothers wouldn't want to have dwarfs."

Obviously this Man needs sensitivity training!

[nickcarraway]

ping

[nickcarraway]

ping

[friendly]

I have the highest respect for Dr. Watson, whom I actually met once (he lives and works locally here on Long Island).

However, he is out to lunch on this issue. Not mentioned is that he has a severely schizophrenic son, who is the older boy as I recall. I believe the sad situation is the end of the Watson line, but isn't that ultimately the goal of his abortion industry.

[John Beresford Tipton]

"Most mothers wouldn't want to have dwarfs."

Miss Snow White begs to differ.

[jwalsh07]

Problems with his son's health left Dr Watson unable to open the International Congress of Genetics today in Melbourne. Instead he will appear before the conference, which is held every five years, by videotape

Tough sh!t!

[visualops]

concedes could lead to eugenics

It is eugenics. He says "who wouldn't want better children".
I'm very surprised he isn't in favor of cloning, especially since he obviously thinks he smarter than everyone else.

[nickcarraway]

ping

[Threepwood]

This is really, really sad. Not because of the eugenics nonsense, which is disgusting in a familar way, but because his son (who is presumably literate)will someday read that his "Dad" was all for aborting him. I'm sure that will be a real treat.

[friendly]

Two words: Stephen Hawkings

Two amazing words indeed to answer the abortion industry!

[Senator Pardek]

...the man who co-discovered DNA said that parents, especially mothers, should have a right of genetic veto over the make-up of their child.

Why? Why should a man be saddled with a genetic misfit because a female says so?

[glaux]

And normal children come with no guarantee...two words: Columbine killers.

[Petronski]

"My son is so inconvenient to me, I wish I had been able to kill him earlier. If I could, I'd do it now." -- Dr. James Mengele Watson

[Petronski]

A ping to the prayerful. Come and see the evil with your own eyes.