Understanding Race and Human Variation

Introduction

• Individual human beings are distinct in various physical traits:
  • Skin color
  • Body shape
  • Hair form
  • Eye shape
• Historically, these differences have led to classification into 4-5 racial groups.

Traditional Notion of Race

• Race is often perceived as:
  • Deep divisions among people
  • Essential and unchanging categories
• Visual differences (like skin color) are assumed to be linked to internal traits (e.g., athletic ability, intelligence).

Biological Myths of Race

• Race is believed to be biologically real, yet current genetics research contradicts this:
  • No genetic markers are exclusive to a specific race.
  • Genetic diversity exists within racial groups.
• Scott Bronson from Cold Spring Harbor Labs leads a workshop on human variation.

DNA Workshop Activities

• Students will:
  • Compare skin colors
  • Type their blood
  • Swab cells from their mouths to extract DNA
• They will analyze similarities and differences in genetic data.

Student Assumptions

• Initial beliefs about genetic similarity often correlate with perceived racial identity:
  • E.g., students may believe they are more similar to others of the same race.
• Discussions among students reveal common assumptions based on appearance:
  • "I think I probably have the most similarities with Mister Bronson..."
  • "...the most differences with Kyrol..."

Paradigm Shift in Understanding Race

• Understanding race as a biological myth requires a significant shift in perspective:
  • Like realizing the world is not flat but curved.
• Race should be viewed as a social construct rather than a biological fact.