Balotelli cartoon - is this racist ?

[KentuckyYid]

So, I googled it and :

ACTN3 is apparently the gene of choice when it comes to sorting out the elite athletes from the fat kids, wiki then says this :

The rs1815739 mutation

A mutation (rs1815739; R577X) has been identified in the ACTN3 gene which results in a deficiency of alpha-actinin 3 in a significant proportion of the population.[3] Based on ethnicity the deficiency is found in 20-50% of people. Generally, Africans have the lowest incidence of the mutation whilst Asians have the highest. Scientists believe that variations in this gene evolved to accommodate the energy expenditure requirements of people in various parts of the world.
Studies have linked the fiber twitch type with ACTN3, i.e. fast twitch fiber abundant individuals carry the non-mutant gene version. Also, studies in elite athletes have shown that the ACTN3 gene may influence athletic performance. Whilst the non-mutant version of the gene is associated with sprint performance, the mutant version is associated with endurance.[4][5][6][7][8]


So, people of African origin are more likely to have the sprinting gene whilst those of Asian origin are more likely to have the endurance version.

Whatever you want to make of what Johnson said, he potentially had a legitimate scientific point - that African heritage runners had a genetic advantage. In my opinion it was a risk to say it due to the potential for it to be construed in a racist manner but then he also acknowledged that it's a taboo subject so he is at least aware of what he's saying.

KY's post are the usual litany of half thought out attempts to prove that a black man has been racist and that white people are forced to bite their tongues continuously. The extraordinary lack of understanding about evolution and genetics displayed in the Irish slave comments is pretty impressive not to mention the surreal attempt to equate horse breeding with human genetics.

So it's safe to say genes found in white people is why whites win all the gold, silver, and bronze swimming medals? Is that what you're saying? Or shouldn't any of us, including Johnson, highlight differences between us when we're all supposed to be getting along as one?

btw I haven't seen too many Asian countries dominating at endurance sports. Marathons & other long distance running springs to mind on first thoughts of endurance sports and the Africans do pretty good at that too don't they? Using your science they should be dead last right?

 

[nidge]

Actually Johnson said on the Olympic program that scientists have found white people also have this supposed speed gene, so it's down to nurture rather than nature.

Indeed he did. Also of the 82 people who have run under 10 seconds for the 100m only one of them was white.

Again that's not to say black people are better than white it's just the enviroment they grow up in means they are more likely to develop the use of the gene that makes a person fast.

Don't forget that athletics in Jamaica is pretty much their National sport and sprinting in particular is insanely popular and kids group up wanting to be the next Bolt.

 

[AW?]

What's it even supposed to mean? He's king of Engliish football?

 

[beats1]

Indeed he did. Also of the 82 people who have run under 10 seconds for the 100m only one of them was white.

Again that's not to say black people are better than white it's just the enviroment they grow up in means they are more likely to develop the use of the gene that makes a person fast.

Don't forget that athletics in Jamaica is pretty much their National sport and sprinting in particular is insanely popular and kids group up wanting to be the next Bolt.

The specific gene theory hasn't been proved and what they thought was the gene hasn't been confirmed and they are still searching, the theory that selective breeding and survival of the fittest in which at times only 4% survived the slave ships transfer holds more weight (Darwin's theory), Also Jamaica was the last or longest stop in the slave trade, with some cases highlighting only 4 people made the journey from africa to Jamaica out 170.

This is because that out of those 82 people only 14 were african and most of them had left Africa before they broke the 10 second barrier, I will give a longer detailed answer next week but right now I have a thesis to write for Wednesday