Geneticist Talks 23andMe, Race Science Myths and Richard Dawkins | Ash Meets Dr Adam Rutherford

On the far-right, race science is making a screaming comeback. From "the 14 words" to scaremongering about "white genocide" in the face of changing demographics, the idea that race purity is under threat and must be violently defended is gaining momentum. This discuss this and more, Ash Sarkar is joined by Dr. Adam Rutherford, author of books including CONTROL: The Dark History and Troubling Present of Eugenics.
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[HistoricInaccuracy]

This was probably my favorite interview/conversation I’ve ever watched on YouTube. Ashe is a great interviewer and Dr Adam is so wonderful.

[IfLifeIsALeaf]

Wonderful, wonderful show. Bless you, Ash.

One thing, not a contradiction, just interesting, DNA is popularly presented as a blueprint. It's actually a library. Not all books are in all libraries. Not all books in a library are read. Many genes are environmentally triggered. Many traits are poly-allelic, effected by several genes.

[ChrisMichael]

That was by far one of the most fun, enjoyable pieces you guys have ever produced. Was like sitting quietly at a great dinner party conversation. Thank you.

[tagore]

Thanks for this, it's like my two favourite things meeting for something that is greater than the sum of its parts.

[worship]

I wish people who make assumptions about Novara listen to conversations like this. Imagine if we were watching this on Channel 4, our collective discussion would be so much better.

[willowtdog]

I think Ash is enjoying Rutherford's blush as much as I am. Unexpected icing on the cake of this excellent conversation. Thanks for this interview!

[arash]

At such a late stage of my life, when I thought I had sorted pretty much everything in my mind and ready to expose those to my grand children, giving them precepts for a "better" life, I come cross this video! Shattering my self-belief, confidence and once again confirming that you learn from cradle to grave. I shall watch this again, and again, to hear, absorb, analyse and reflect. Thank you both for saving my grandchildren's' time!

[HughMor-ov]

Great guest and excellent host- informative, questioning and funny. Ms Sarkar really is such a relaxed, intellectually curious and humourous interviewer. Dr Rutherford never dodged a question- fascinating and refreshing views on how we use and react to science in our world, past and present.

[therealtulip]

Slight correction: Theology and the academic study of the Bible are two completely separate disciplines. Theology inherently assumes there is a God, so yes, it makes sense that the majority of theologians are religious.
Academic Bible study neither assumes nor asserts anything about the existence of a God. It’s about finding the sources of the Bible and figuring out what it meant in its historical context.

[annepoitrineau]

I feel your pain about arguing with racists. I am a mathematician, and have taken courses on genetics since Covid. I know what I am talking about, but arguing with racists is something else: no science, no fact for most of them. It comes from their deepest visceral angst, or from an unquestionaed feeliing of superiority (which may originate in the same place as the angst, and just cover up for it). I got into genetics out of love for Neanderthals. From the moment I was aware of them, I realised the way they were represented/talked abaout echoed exactly the way colonisers talked about what they viewd as other races. It was not right for the Andamanese, Chinese, Native Americans, NIgerians, etc therefore it was not right for Neanderthals. Now I am being partly vindicated...and the more we learn about them, the closer to us they are. I want equality :) and I am proud of my 2.3%!, added the other weird and wonderful things revealed by my DNA test!

[anniesearle]

As an archaeologist, regardless of what your DNA says, due to the isotopic component of the water where you grew up as your adult teeth were forming, we can figure out where you grew up. That doesn't tell you anything about how a person thought about themselves but it is very interesting data

[madoldbatwoman]

I used to work with people a lot smarter and better educated than me (I had my place and it was essential and valued, plus we were all mud covered!) and since our worklife was mostly outdoors I was often able to kick back my mental gears and just listen to conversations of this quality with genuine interest and pleasure. I miss it. I could listen to these two chewing their chosen fat for hours. Loved this upload. Bought the book.

[davidthevegan]

"I don't think we talk enough about the probabilistic nature of science..." I'm so glad I'm hearing someone say this. This is a reality I've been contending with since before the start of the pandemic, but only revealed itself as I saw myself and others trying so hard to find a neat conclusive answer that inevitably led to stubborn attitudes to contradicting perspectives.

God I loved this discussion, I need more.

[PeachBeach]

Insanely good interview, Ash! A solid 10/10 as bloody usual!!!!

[warrenbond]

Hi Ash,
I just want to thank You for Your interview with Adam Rutherford, it's one of the best conversations I've Heard in a long time, it's so in depth and clarifies so much for Me. Excellent work 👏 👍

[peternolan]

Such an interesting and enlightening interview. Thank you NM & Ash - really enjoyed that… more please :)

[nimmieamee]

This is an incredible interview. What a knowledgeable guest and what a thoughtful and skillful interviewer. Absolutely fantastic. I wish it were an hour longer and I mean that seriously. The passion and insight of both jumps out.

[katiemarshall]

This one is so up my alley, I was studying Virology and Parasitology until my health took a nosedive and I've listened to Dr Rutherford before, I love him so much.

[annikafrankenstein]

Most Africans trasported across the atlantic were taken to South America, not North America. Brazil has the greatest African-descended population in all of the Americas.

[augustroomate]

Do these 2 know each other from another life? They get along very well. I’d watch a weekly podcast of these 2.😎