Hitler's DNA Revealed

[Padreruf]

Hitler's DNA

Interesting article about a scientific analysis of Adollf Hitler's DNA and what it can and cannot tell us about him. Interestingly enough, the analysis itself was performed in a lab in the USA as the British labs passed on it due to possible controversy. Very interesting read...

BTW, he did not have any Jewish ancestors!

 

[Tidewater]

Hitler's DNA

Interesting article about a scientific analysis of Adollf Hitler's DNA and what it can and cannot tell us about him. Interestingly enough, the analysis itself was performed in a lab in the USA as the British labs passed on it due to possible controversy. Very interesting read...

BTW, he did not have any Jewish ancestors!

Oh, well, I guess the rumors were not true. Still a great rumor, though.

 

[92tide]

did they also confirm the song lyric about him only having one testicle?

 

[4Q Basket Case]

It is interesting. I thought the scientists did a good job fully explaining what the results did and didn't say.

I also thought the criticisms from other scientists were overwrought. They smacked of virtue signaling to justify what I suspect is really professional envy. IOW, I wish I'd been the one to analyze Hitler's DNA...but you were, so I'm going to impugn your moral fiber.

Hitler's DNA showed that he was more prone to autism, ADHD and schizophrenia than 99% of the population. The researchers clearly and repeatedly state that a genetic predisposition isn't a diagnosis and that DNA can't tell whether an individual person (in this case, Adolf Hitler) actually had the mental conditions to which he was genetically predisposed.

Yet other scientists say that bringing it up at all is a disservice to people who do have autism. That autistic people "deserve better." That the research shouldn't have been done at all.

That's an interesting comment because the DNA also shows that Hitler had a genetic disorder that leads to under-developed sexual organs. That finding actually is diagnostic, yet I note that none of the criticisms stated that people who have that disorder today "deserve better."

While not a diagnosis in Hitler's specific case (which the researchers repeatedly emphasize), omitting a finding of propensity to mental conditions that significant (more prone than 99% of the general population) would be a disservice to the research.

We should learn from things and people that are distasteful or downright evil. What better way to avoid or prevent them in the future? It beats running away in screaming -- but virtuous -- ignorance. Or hiding a legitimate finding because it might be uncomfortable.

Kudos to the researchers!

 

[4Q Basket Case]

did they also confirm the song lyric about him only having one testicle?

They confirmed that he had a genetic disorder that leads to under-developed sexual organs. The DNA can't identify the exact symptoms Hitler himself might have exhibited. Having only one testicle would be consistent, but other symptoms would be as well.

 

[Tidewater]

That's an interesting comment because the DNA also shows that Hitler had a genetic disorder that leads to under-developed sexual organs. That finding actually is diagnostic, yet I note that none of the criticisms stated that people who have that disorder today "deserve better."

The meaning of the word "some" continues to befuddle people.
Inductive reasoning has its place, and is sometimes all we have, but it also has its limitations.
That seems to be lost on the crowd saying "autistic people deserve better."
The researchers said, "Some of the people with this gene have or develop autism. They did not say, "All that have this gene are autistics." Nor did they say, "All people with autism are Hitler."

"Some." Not that complicated.