2-2 Short Paper: Race and Biology - 600 words minimum paper Explore the question

Question

2-2 Short Paper: Race and Biology - 600 words minimum paper

Explore the question of biological difference and whether the concept of race has any scientific validity. Utilize the following resources.

Resources
Race: Are We So Different?
American Anthropological Association Statement on “Race”
Optional: Race & Genetics FAQ
Optional: The Status of the Race Concept in American Anthropology
Optional: in The Matrix Reader, read Essay 40: “Excerpts From Race and Ethnic Relations: American and Global Perspectives” by Martin Marger.

Explanation / Answer

Racial categories are based primarily on physical features like facial features, size of head and body, skin colour, underlying skeleton. These traits are all non biological traits based on social construction of the race. There is no scientific validation of the biological differences among the races. According to the scientist , all human beings belong to only one species i.e. homo sapiens and they all have a common ancestor. There is some biological variation among different humans due to the little variation in the frequency of the shared traits. The biological differences among the differences among the human populations exist due to heredity factors and other social and environmental factors.

Although there are physical differences exist between populations living in different geographical areas eg. body shape and size which are strongly influenced by the way of life, nutrition and other environmental factors. Genetic differences between different populations exist due to the difference in the frequency of inherited traits. The genetic composition of each population gets modified due to influence of various factors like natural selection, mutation, changes in genetic material, genetic exchange between local population, adaptation of the population to the environment. The biological result of mating depends only on the genetic make up of the people and not people on their racial classification. So based on all these scientific evidences there is no relation between biological difference and the race.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse 2
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.