Now this is a theme I’ve seen again and again on the bloggo-comment scene. It boils down to “Well, Watson didn’t really do anything else of specific credit to himself after the double helix work. And we have a raging debate about his relative contribution to even that work. So actually it isn’t clear that he’s any smarter than the average pic-i-nic basket himself”. I don’t know the fields well enough for a search of his published work to tell me anything beyond where his stuff was published.

Seems like an informed scientific-accomplishments-of-Watson biography might be a good blog topic for someone or other that knows the field well enough…

From the many comments that an earlier post of mine produced, I realized that much of the public does not even know that Dr. Watson isn’t actually an expert on this subject. He last published any non-review research article in the early 1990’s and most of his previous work involved the identification of various genetic elements too technical and boring to capture any “newsy” attention. His research never examined the underlying genetics of intelligence, libido, attractiveness, or anything else about which he rants. Therefore, the claim that he is an expert is hardly accurate. This scientist is acclaimed for two reasons: his Nobel-winning discovery in 1953 and his unparalleled fund-raising abilities (obviously, the second extends from the first…). Therefore, when he makes statements that sound like fact, I can’t blame an uneducated public for believing him. His irresponsibility is likely to perpetuate or rejuvenate bigoted ideas in an American public still trying to cope with and learn from the race clashes of the 60’s.

Yeah, , everybody knows he’s not really being censured in a way that counts. He’s probably relieved at his advanced age to drop whatever responsibilities he actually had as Chancellor. The way it goes, unfortunately. Kinda like white collar criminals who scam retirement funds and excess fees (Enron et al.) off the powerless. Even if convicted do they spend the rest of their lives picking strawberries or some such in grinding poverty and filth? hell no. We scientific peons recognize he isn’t going to pay any lifestyle penalty here. Not even sure he should, myself.

I just think the real issue here is captured by the above quote from the comment over at Thus Spake Zuska. It is all about appearances. Both within the scientific community and without. The firm statement that if you want to launch certain types of incendiary scientific opinions you had better know what you are talking about. If the percept from Watson’s apparently forced retirement is “He got fired from his job”, well, so much the good even if the reality is more nuanced.

But just to clarify his “retirement” (as I have an inside connection to CSHL) for your readers – Watson will retain his house on CSHL campus (for which he pays no mortgage or rent; the property and house are likely worth between $3-5 million, based on recent home sales in the vicinity); he retains his office and secretary; and, although confidential, he likely retains much of his salary.

Therefore, as I posted on my blog, the only thing that will change on the inside is the nameplate on the door, if that. You’ve got to be crazy to think that no one will ever stop by hos office for a little informal advice whenever there is a major labwide decision to be made…