General Election 2010

I wouldn't say it's pointless. If we can't define a gene, then defining a scientific basis for "race" seems a bit premature?

just for fun: 5 'definitions' for a 'gene':
1.A mendelian Unit of Heritability- backed up by Crick and Watson's discovery of DNA

1. De Vries' interchangeable part- backed up by the fact that certain genes are shared throughout species to such a degree that they can be swapped and carry out the same task/role
   
2. Garrodian One Gene One Disease- errors in a gene lead to a disease- therefore a healthy gene leads to healthy phenotype.
   4.Watson and Crick's and Brenner's definition of mechanism- genes code for proteins (and other things) which carry out a role- a 'recipe'
   5.Jacob and Monod's switch- genes switching off and off determine phenotype.
   
   

with respect to Matt Ridley- 'Nature via Nurture'