From: Rafal Smigrodzki (rms2g@virginia.edu)
Date: Mon Sep 23 2002 - 14:25:28 MDT
Damien asked:
> What motivates anyone to ask if `some groups of people have genetic
> limitations' that require appropriate treatment (intensive costly
> education, gene therapy, segregation, enslavement, whatever)?
>
### I never cease to be amazed at how meanings can be implied to quite
innocuous and clear words, even by nice and well-intentioned readers.
As it happens, my graduate training was in human molecular genetics. My
residency was in neurology, rife with genetic conditions. Currently I am
working on the genetics of mitochondrial disease. Not surprisingly, thinking
about genetically defined groups of humans is a second nature to me and my
perceptions are likely to be different than what the majority of humans
have.
I don't see "color". I see "AGTC".
I guess many of my readers are different. That's why when I write "A clear
picture of biology and biological differences is likely to help", they see
"dark skinned".
I write: "Science and technology will hopefully set us free of our current
limits. Once we understand, we all will reach new heights." and the reader
is worrying about "prescientific chunking".
I know that if I want to be a good physician I *have* to think this way.
Say, carriers of the mtDNA mutation 13513A are likely to have severe mental
retardation, with exacerbations which can be perhaps treated with DCA, but I
have to remember not to use valproate for seizures. Carriers of mutations
which produce juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, on the other hand, need to be
treated with valproate. I have to think about group membership, and I do.
This is what motivates me to ask if some groups of people have genetic
limitations. You need to know groups to help individuals. So far there is no
other way. I do my duty.
------
I appreciate your good intentions but you missed the point - you wrote about
skin color and races in response to a manifesto where these issues were not
even mentioned.
Sorry for the curmudgeonly tone.
Rafal
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