Recently I had DNA profiled, which indicated that 37% of my DNA comes from West Africa. I'm a Black American with typical feathers and look. Yet a White American in the group was also profiled, indicating that 31% of his DNA comes from West Africa. Where is the line drawn?
2006-07-17 15:48:26 · 6 answers · asked by Leslie G 2 in Social Science ➔ Anthropology
Honestly, because of things like your test, and other more complicated measurements and analysis, the entire concept of "race" is being done away with.
As you've seen, there's not a significant enough genetic difference between people who look entirely different to consider them different races. You may well be *culturally* Black, and he *culturally* White but if you married identical twins, your children might look very much alike! (Then again they might not.)
I understand the desire of people who have been denied access to their ethnic heritage for generations to find that heritage. I think if those of us who think we know exactly where we "came from," at least in America, were to have the same tests, we'd be as surprised as you were.
Now, if you two guys DO marry those identical twins, you'll be doing your part to make us all more a part of the *human* race. I'm not in favor of wiping out cultural differences (though I do wish the edges could be blurred a bit) but I really like imagining the day when we're all just sorta medium brown with sorta curly hair and roundish slantyish eyes. All over the world.
But we'll still find something to hate each other for!
2006-07-17 17:15:50 · answer #1 · answered by LazlaHollyfeld 6 · 2⤊ 3⤋
Actually, a "race" is a locus of dominant genes that remains stable for a fixed population...and therefore can and does change over time. The modern "black African" and modern "Anglo European" races didn't exist...at ALL...about 100,000 years ago. Interesting, huh? Since the changes that can occur take intermixing and a LOT of time, the changes accumulate very slowly. So, "race" is the lowest classification on the Linnean scale, below even "species".
Does that help?
2006-07-18 09:40:42 · answer #2 · answered by stevenB 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Race is a social construct. We look for reasons to divide ourselves, and appearance or cultural background is just one of them. Even based on geography and physical appearance, there are grey areas in racial divisions, indicating that they are human constructs and not actually scientific. The concept of race varies from culture to culture, as well; there are people who consider themselves to be of different races in other parts of the world who we in North America would place in the same category. I think we need to take pride in our ethnic backgrounds, because different cultures add to the beauty and diversity of humanity, but the idea of race leads to inequality and division.
2006-07-18 06:08:59 · answer #3 · answered by Cunning Linguist 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
to me there is just one race and that is the human race, wager people wont truly keep in mind that till beings from yet another planet take position or some thing tho. Now prejudice in accordance to pores and skin / hair colorings, weight, acceptable. only undeniable nasty slender mined people in case you question me
2016-10-14 22:03:37 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Scientific or Political?
2006-07-17 19:47:12 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Those tests are not completely accurate.
2006-07-17 15:52:21 · answer #6 · answered by lavendergirl 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋