Question

How is race/ethnicity defined? Is it even possible to define race/ethnicity by genetics?

Answer 1

The term race refers to groups of people who have differences and similarities in biological traits deemed by society to be socially significant meaning that people treat other people differently because of them. For instance, while differences and similarities in eye color have not been treated as socially significant, differences and similarities in skin color have.Although some scholars have attempted to establish dozens of racial groupings for the peoples of the world, others have suggested four or five. An example of a racial category is Asian or Mongoloid, with its associated facial, hair color, and body type features. Certainly, obvious physical differences—some of which are inherited—exist between humans. But how these variations form the basis for social prejudice and discrimination has nothing to do with genetics but rather with a social phenomenon related to outward appearances.Racism then, is prejudice based on socially significant physical features. A racist believes that certain people are superior, or inferior, to others in light of racial differences. Racists approve of segregation or the social and physical separation of classes of people.

Ethnicity refers to shared cultural practices, perspectives, and distinctions that set apart one group of people from another. That is, ethnicity is a shared cultural heritage. The most common characteristics distinguishing various ethnic groups are ancestry, a sense of history, language, religion, and forms of dress. Ethnic differences are not inherited; they are learned. Most countries today consist of different ethnic groups. Ideally, countries strive for pluralism where people of all ethnicities and races remain distinct but have social equality. As an example, the United States is exceptionally diverse, with people representing groups from all over the globe, but lacking in true pluralism. The same can be said of the ethic diversity of the former Soviet Union with its more than 100 ethnic groups, some having more than a million members.

As human migration progressed throughout the world, genetic isolation led to the development of distinct populations that shared common DNA and other genetic material.Race is defined as a group related by common descent or heredity. Often, these groups also share similar phenotypic trait. Outside of genetic characteristics, race can also include cultural and ethnic similarities of a people.Though different populations developed through the process of migration and genetic isolation, all humans fall under the same species, Homo sapiens. The field of eugenics which posited that most human phenotypic and personality traits were controlled by genes. The practice of eugenics was often used to discriminate against certain racial and ethnic groups based on their DNA.There are many ethical problems with this now-discredited branch of science, in addition to the problems associated with the fraudulent scientific methods that were used to show support for the movement.Genetic variation between populations focus on differences that have arisen from divergent evolutionary histories rather than trying to find a scientific or medical definition for “race”. For example, skin color is genetically controlled. All humans possess the many genes involved in determining skin color.