[general_re]

Again, you don't know what you're talking about. There are at least three and perhaps four genes involved in skin color and several alleles at each gene producing differing amounts of melanin.

I said that, and it's true. There is no one-to-one mapping between those genes and a person's race. Thus, no definitive genetic test for ethnicity exists. And even if you could have such a thing, then when we start using it as a precondition of receiving, say, affirmative action benefits, then and only then will the author have something resembling a cogent case.

We don't make black people "prove" that they are black in order to receive special benefits from society, and therefore this notion that we should make gay people "prove" that they are gay falls flat on its face.

It's a shame, because you can make a very good case for not singling out groups for preferences - this article isn't it.

[Hajman]

I said that, and it's true. There is no one-to-one mapping between those genes and a person's race. Thus, no definitive genetic test for ethnicity exists.

Who says there has to be a one-to-one mapping between genes and traits? We can easily come up with a definitive genetic test for skin color simply by looking at the genes that map out skin color. At Genetic Control and Melanin look for Skin Colour (about half way down the page). It shows how genes code for skin color. There doesn't have to be a one-to-one gene-to-trait relationship, but there is a one-to-one gene coding-to-trait relationship. There's no known such homosexual genetic coding. There's no combination of genes that code for homosexuality. This can be easily demonstrated in genetic twins where one becomes homosexual, and the other hetrosexual; and this isn't the exception.

-The Hajman-

[steve-b]

It's a shame, because you can make a very good case for not singling out groups for preferences - this article isn't it.

That's because the argument has to apply to all groups, and the aspinal double-orchidectomy crowd dares not present the case for simply getting the government out of the whole mess.