What is the Relationship between Race and Genetics?
First, it is important to realize there are far more genetic similarities between all human beings than there are differences, regardless of the racial heritage. At the level of DNA, only one base in a thousand differs between the genomes of any two people. The term race, in general usage, includes both a cultural and biological feature of a person or group of people. Given the fact that physical differences between populations are often accompanied by cultural differences, it has been difficult to separate these two elements of race. Over the past few decades there has been a movement in several fields of science to oversimplify the issue declaring that race is “merely a social construct”. While, indeed this may often be true, depending on what aspect of variation between people one is considering, it is also true that there are biological differences between the populations of the world. One clear example of a biological difference is skin color.
First, it is important to realize there are far more genetic similarities between all human beings than there are differences, regardless of the racial heritage. At the level of DNA, only one base in a thousand differs between the genomes of any two people. The term race, in general usage, includes both a cultural and biological feature of a person or group of people. Given the fact that physical differences between populations are often accompanied by cultural differences, it has been difficult to separate these two elements of race. Over the past few decades there has been a movement in several fields of science to oversimplify the issue declaring that race is “merely a social construct”. While, indeed this may often be true, depending on what aspect of variation between people one is considering, it is also true that there are biological differences between the populations of the world. One clear example of a biological difference is skin color. There is a strong genetic component t