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Museum cancels race row scientist Museum cancels race row scientist
(about 6 hours later)
The Science Museum has cancelled a talk it was due to host by a geneticist, after he claimed black people were less intelligent than white people.The Science Museum has cancelled a talk it was due to host by a geneticist, after he claimed black people were less intelligent than white people.
Dr James Watson, who won the Nobel Prize for his part in discovering the structure of DNA, was due to speak at the venue on Friday.Dr James Watson, who won the Nobel Prize for his part in discovering the structure of DNA, was due to speak at the venue on Friday.
But the museum has cancelled the event, saying Dr Watson's views go "beyond the point of acceptable debate".But the museum has cancelled the event, saying Dr Watson's views go "beyond the point of acceptable debate".
Dr Watson was due to arrive in Britain on Friday for a speaking tour. Dr Watson has arrived in Britain to promote his latest book.
'Cause controversy''Cause controversy'
In an interview with The Sunday Times, the 79-year-old said he was "inherently gloomy about the prospect of Africa" because "all our social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the same as ours - whereas all the testing says not really".In an interview with The Sunday Times, the 79-year-old said he was "inherently gloomy about the prospect of Africa" because "all our social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the same as ours - whereas all the testing says not really".
He went on to say he hoped everyone was equal but that "people who have to deal with black employees find this is not true".He went on to say he hoped everyone was equal but that "people who have to deal with black employees find this is not true".
A spokesman for the Science Museum said: "We know that eminent scientists can sometimes say things that cause controversy and the Science Museum does not shy away from debating controversial topics.A spokesman for the Science Museum said: "We know that eminent scientists can sometimes say things that cause controversy and the Science Museum does not shy away from debating controversial topics.
"However, we feel Dr Watson has gone beyond the point of acceptable debate and we are as a result cancelling his talk.""However, we feel Dr Watson has gone beyond the point of acceptable debate and we are as a result cancelling his talk."
The scientist has courted controversy in the past, saying that a woman should have the right to abort her unborn child if tests could determine it would be homosexual.The scientist has courted controversy in the past, saying that a woman should have the right to abort her unborn child if tests could determine it would be homosexual.