DNA scientist suspended from top lab after claiming 'white people are more intelligent than blacks'

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In a recent interview the Novel prize winner appeared to suggest that Africans were less intelligent than whites. But after his remarks caused a furious backlash he said there was "no scientific basis" for believing that Africa was "genetically inferior".

However, today he attempted to justify his theory that there is a genetic basis behind differences in IQ.

"I have never been one to shy away from stating what I believe to be the truth," he told a newspaper. Admitting, "this has, at times, got me in hot water."

Although he does not refer directly to race, Dr Watson did again invoke the idea of Darwinian natural selection leading to differences in ability between people from different regions of the world.

"The overwhelming desire of society today is to assume that equal powers of reason are a universal heritage of humanity," he told The Independent.

"It may well be. But simply wanting this to be the case is not enough. This is not science. To question this is not to give in to racism."

Dr Watson's earlier apology followed a newspaper interview in which he is quoted as saying he is "gloomy about the prospect of Africa" because "all our social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the same as ours – whereas all the testing says not really".

In the interview, he said he hoped everyone was equal, but added: "People who have to deal with black employees find this not true."

In response to the interview, the Science Museum cancelled a talk due to be given by Dr Watson tonight, accusing him of going "beyond the point of acceptable debate".

British scientists said the decision to ban his talk as "outrageous" and smacked of political correctness.

Other universities and scientific institutes where Dr Watson is due to appear over the next week on a book tour, are reviewing whether to go ahead with their events.

Prof Colin Blakemore, a neuroscientist at University of Oxford and the former head of the Medical Research Council, said studies had shown that differences in the IQs of black and white Americans were closing year by year - showing that intelligence was heavily governed by environment.

But he added: "It's outrageous to ban someone based on newspaper reports of their views.

"Jim Watson is well known for being provocative and politically incorrect. But it would be a sad world if such a distinguished scientist was silenced because of his more unpalatable views."

Prof Lewis Wolpert, a biologist at University College London said: "You may not like what he is saying, and it may seem outrageous, but people can cope with it and they should be able to go along and disagree."

And Prof Richard Morris, a neuroscientist at Edinburgh University, who was due to chair tonight's meeting, said: "I doubt anyone regards Jim Watson as an authority on such matters and I am inclined towards the view that there would be little danger in giving him a platform to speak given these views.

"They are not explicitly racist and do not incite racial hatred, even if the do differ from received opinion on these matters."

Dr Watson, an American who won a Nobel prize for his role in the discovery of the structure of DNA in the 1950s, was due to address 400 people at the London museum tonight.

Yesterday, Dr Watson issued an apology.

"Science is no stranger to controversy and I am not one to shy away from tackling issues, however, difficult they might prove to be," he said.

"I have had my share of controversy, as many of you know. But I am mortified about what has happened.

"More importantly, I cannot understand how I could have said what I am quoted as having said. 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."

British academics said link between race and intelligence was not supported by the evidence. But they defended his right to air "unpalatable" views in public.

Dr Watson is no stranger to controversy. In the past he has suggested that black people have more powerful sex drives, that thin people are more ambitious and that women should "hypothetically" have the right to abort foetuses that may be homosexual.

Other venues due to host Dr Watson over the next few days are under pressure to cancel.

A spokesman for Edinburgh University, where he is due to talk on Monday, said: "The University is currently considering the issues raised as a result of this matter and will take a view on the event planned for Monday in due course."

However Newcastle's Centre for Life said its event with Dr Watson would go ahead on Sunday.

Linda Conlon, Chief Executive, said: "James Watson has been a regular visitor to Life and has often been outspoken and controversial.

"His views are not those held by the Centre but many people are keen to hear what he has to say."