American molecular biologist and DNA authority, James Watson, winner of the 1962 Nobel prize for his description of the double-helix structure of DNA, has apologized for racially insensitive comments and canceled his book tour in Britain.

So what did he say that has everyone’s panties in a bunch? In an interview published in the Oct. 14 edition of Britain’s Sunday Times, Watson was quoted as saying he was…

“inherently gloomy about the prospect of Africa. “All our social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the same as ours — whereas all the testing says not really.”

Oh no he didn’t! Yes, sadly, he actually did!

Watson said he was sorry for the comments in an appearance at the Royal Society in London.

“I am mortified about what has happened,” he told a group of scientists and journalists. “I can certainly understand why people, reading those words, have reacted in the ways they have.

“To all those who have drawn the inference from my words that Africa, as a continent, is somehow genetically inferior, I can only apologize unreservedly.

“That is not what I meant. More importantly, from my point of view, there is no scientific basis for such a belief.”

Hopefully his apology isn’t just lip service and an attempt to cover himself. If not, lets hope he’ll use that brilliant mind to do more research… and get a clue. Bill Clinton would be proud.