What biological/empirical basis is there for seperating the human race into different races?

Question

My auntie was telling me that 'scientists' have decided that there are 3 'races' that the human race can be divided into: Caucasoid, Negroid and Mongoloid. These 'races' can be divided into smaller groups that we might more commonly think of as races but the big three have seperate observable characteristics that probably arose during long seperations between these groups' evolution.

These seperations were not long enough to induce a seperation into different species but were long enough to produce recognisably different characteristics in the 'races'.

I asked my auntie what those characteristics were and she couldn't remember!

Is she making it all up off the top of her head, loosely basing her argument on scientific fact in order to give it credibility, or are there recognisable differences and if so WHAT ARE THEY???

Answer 1

Unfortunately your aunt is going on very outdated information. This is what scientists thought in the 19th century, but they haven't thought this about races for quite a few years.

What the studies of DNA and genetics have shown us is that we are all very closely related. There are no major genetic differences between the races. In fact, there is more genetic difference within each of these races than between them.

Actually the African population has by far the most genetic variation - compare for example the San Bushmen with the completely different-looking population of (say) Nigeria.

Answer 2

What is focused upon is not so much "race" as culturally perceived but physical differences that have ties back to geographical origin. There is a fourth category: australoid. What is looked at is morphology, which is form and structure of the skull, and osteometry which are the measurements.

Caucasoid refers to traits that have roots in Europe and can be further divided into northern (noridic), central (alpine), and southern (mediterranean). Very generally speaking, the skull is going to be more long and narrow and the height is going to be more tall. The eye sockets are going to be more rounded, the nasal openings are more teardrop shaped, and the teeth tend to be wedge shaped with the back surface of the incisors flat.

Negroid refers to skull traits with origins in Africa. The skull is typically long and narrow and a not quite as tall as in caucasoid. The nasal opening tends to have a slant and is more rounded. The eye sockets are square shaped. The teeth are very similar to caucasoid with the flat backed incisors.

Mongoloid refers to asian origins (this also applies to native american skulls). The cranium is typically short and wide, the eye sockets are more rounded but can be a rounded square. The cheekbones are higher and can be more prominant. The incisors are shovel shaped, meaning the back surface is more curved. The face can have an overall more flattened appearance than in some other skulls.

Australoid refers to aboriginal groups and they tend to have more of a brow ridge and a more square jaw.

There are also DNA studies that can see genes that originate from geographical locales. Again, this is not race as is culturally seen, but a look at origin of some traits.

Answer 3

I too agree that the basic races of humanity are not three but have got completely mixed up. But look up the latest find from molecular biologists who aver that the whole of mankind has descended from 7 females all of them originating from Africa I think. It is based on the study of DNA of the mitochondria which do not undergo that much of mixing as the other chromosomes.
The races are infraspecific categories and we as humans are only one species because we can all cross breed interracially and our offsprings are not some sterile hybrids like mules but can still get children i.e., they also can beget children.
Ultimately, what with globalization and all that the whole of humanity will become a single race with brown colour and dark hair, because these are the dominant characters.

Answer 4

Anthropologists/forensics can generally tell from a skull whether someone is from one of the 3 main groups you describe. But from what I understand, there is no DNA difference that we can point to yet to distinguish races.

Now, that could be that they are afraid to let that info out b/c then racism would have some real basis. But that's just me being paranoid...

But in any case, your aunt is correct, but they are not diff species (then we couldn't have babies with the others), they are different ethnicities.

Technically they are not races, their is only one race. The human race

Answer 5

There are minor genetic differences between human races but the differences are so minor that in no other species would the term race be used to describe this level of genetic variance..

Answer 6

This is an easy one. If the world gets too hot, we've proven that we can survive it because the "Cradles of Civilization" were in hot, dry areas. If the world gets cold, then we've already proven that we can withstand ice ages, and that's without any "high" technology. If the world gets overpopulated, it will, out of necessity, balance itself out. I don't think we need to worry about surviving the next 100 years. The real question is how to we keep the next 100 years from becoming the next Dark Age.

Answer 7

There are some minor genetic differences between races. I dont know the specifics but generally I would presume it is in the level of gene expression and allelic variation rather than different genes.

Answer 8

None.

Research has indicated some DNA that can be linked to "place" - there was a Channel 4 documentary a few months ago where people who thought they were "pure English" were told how widely the geographic data of their DNA spread, with much amusing results - but no link to "race".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_racism

Answer 9

You could do your own web searches to find the answers you seek.

You could also consider - In the beginning there was only one race - the different cultures evolved due to the infiltration and coupling of the ETs who came from different planets. It was the ETs that gave us the technology to building the roads (as our history is written the Roman Roads) and the Pyramids (as our history is written the Egyptians) - but who showed the Romans and the Egyptians how to build them!

Disregard or food for thought.

Answer 10

There are physiological differences between the races. Take a look at this site. http://serc.carleton.edu/introgeo/earthhistory/humanrace.html