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After reading Deepak Chopra’s write-up in The Huffington Post about genes, The Trouble With Genes, I had to resist taking a permanent marker and X’ing out his profile pic on my notebook screen. I know the guy is out in la-la land, but making false assertions about our supposed lack of understanding about gene function misleads people far more than the geneticists he’s accusing of doing the same.
His list of genetic mysteries reads more like the wonderings of a young child who has never read an elementary biology book. Thankfully, the reader comments address every single one of his false statements and more. Scroll down to read the point-by-point refutations by Blazier and twgbonehead. But the most telling part of Chopra’s agenda is summed up by his closing paragraph:
That part of the story is already grim. Americans consume more drugs every year and ignore mind-body alternatives and prevention. Such is the official record, and unfortunately, the rise of genes, which have yet to manifest any miracles, is already luring us away from using our own mind and body as healing agents.
Deepak has definitely run far from the “prison of the intellect.”
Update: Pharyngula’s take.
Technorati Tags: deepak chopra, chopra, deepak, genetics, genes, dna, diseases, illness, health
Well hi there…normally I would start cussing at all these people putting negative comments on here, but ill try to stay sane. First of learn a little about what the guy is teaching and everywhere and everything he has learned before throwing the hammer down on what he says. No he may not be a geneticist but he is right about all the AMAZING things eastern medicines, yoga, meditation etc. can do its just that fat lazy americans that like to judge people and their views automatically put him down because his thoughts are “out there.” Sorry for the fat lazy american comment it wasn’t right. Gentics is really awsome i can see the benefits it may hold, but we aren’t very far in cracking a fraction of the genes. let alone know what to do with them. All he is teaching is how to become happier with yourself and be a better person. Live up to the expectations you know are right. it may sound wierd, and yes it may take time but just try it and i bet you’ll enjoy it. And next time you want to go bashing someone else’s beliefs and teachings take a look at your own religion, as a matter of fact look at all of them. They are the freaking same. Ya their fairytale stories may be different, but all of the messages are pretty much the same. This is pretty funny, read all the other sections on this site. You notice how much bias and judgement is placed in them. Remember there is a balance for everything and its up to you to find yours.
All I can say is no judgement please. I myself am in medicine. In addition to that there is always room for alternative practices. Allow the intellect to expand through the transcendance and then you will see that the lala land as mentioned previously might just become the reality and put things in a different perspective. Thats all and nothing more.
Can anyone explain Dr. Deepak Chopra’s method of healing on the basis of Neuro-Physiological principles?
Genetics is linked to this.
Somehow can you get me the e-mail address of
Dr. Deepak Chopra ? We have tried, but failed
so far.
We have some clarifications to make about Neuro-Physiological explanations of his healing techniques. May be we can try reproducing the similar results if we understand the phenomena.
Sondra: Thanks for the comment. A few of us are scientists and geneticists but others are non-scientists. It’s not that we’re saying genetics has the answers to the world but Deepak’s views are just so out there it’s impossible to take him seriously. His commentary never takes into account opposing views and it appears he may not even be aware of existing theories.
I’m not quite sure where these responses are coming from as I don’t know the background of the people posting. Are the posters geneticists? It seems people are personally insulted here by what Deepak has proposed. I myself am not a geneticist so I cannot say if Mr. Chopra’s views are correct or not. I’m not even sure a geneticist could say. Remember when we thought the atom was the smallest molecule on the planet and then we broke it open and discovered subatomic particles?
Deepak is right, you must be one of those sheep in America who wont take responsibility for anything or their actions.
Not only that I bet you’re one of those sheep who believes George Bush never did anything wrong.. haha
Wake up and think for yourself rather than everyone else with no burden of proof other than a majority of blind numbers.
2039 days ago
[...] Good grief! Deepak Chopra just won’t shut-up about genes. For your reading (dis)pleasure: The Trouble with Genes (Part 3). This time he’s wrestling with the concept of intelligence and forcing it to suit his needs. [...]
Paul: $$$ Kaching!
I have never understood why some people want to escape from the intellect. Seems like the same sort of mentality that says that science takes all the wonder out of the universe.
He would get along quite well with the intelligent design folks.
river2sea72: I never have any idea what his point is. (OK, now I’m just being mean.)
kristina: Next time I buy a new pack of permanent markers, I’ll share with you.
Dave: Makes me glad I’m not living in the U.S. right now! :P
If his bio is true – that he practices medicine in the US – then I am in awe.
I know how you feel about wanting to wield that marker and cross out things—I often feel that way when I read some “research” on autism.
Oh, dear. Clearly, he could have made a much more compelling argument on a number of other (reasonable) grounds if his main point was that Americans take too many prescription medications.