The Affect of Popular Culture on Race
Race (biology)
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This article is about the biological taxonomy term. For the sociological concept, see Social interpretations of race. For the anthropological term, see Race (classification of humans).
In biology, races are distinct genetically divergent populations within the same species with relatively small genetic differences. The populations can be described as ecological races if they arise from adaptation to different local habitats or geographic races when they are geographically isolated. If sufficiently different, two or more groups can be identified as subspecies, which is an official biological taxonomy unit subordinate to species. If not, they are denoted as races, which means that a formal rank should not be given to the group, or taxonomists are unsure whether or not a formal rank should be given. According to Ernst W. Mayr, "a subspecies is a geographic race that is sufficiently different taxonomically to be worthy of a separate name" [1][2]
Within the human species, races are not biological categories[citation needed] that can be found through genetic frequencies.[citation needed] Genetic variation within humans is (1) very small relative to the total and (2) not patterned in such a way[citation needed] as to allow for a small number of natural 'races' to have emerged. For this reason, race cannot be understood as a free-standing taxonomic system because it is always mediated through human actors that are caught up in situations of social location, identity, class, nation, culture, science and sexuality, to name but a few.
[edit] See
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
This article is about the biological taxonomy term. For the sociological concept, see Social interpretations of race. For the anthropological term, see Race (classification of humans).
In biology, races are distinct genetically divergent populations within the same species with relatively small genetic differences. The populations can be described as ecological races if they arise from adaptation to different local habitats or geographic races when they are geographically isolated. If sufficiently different, two or more groups can be identified as subspecies, which is an official biological taxonomy unit subordinate to species. If not, they are denoted as races, which means that a formal rank should not be given to the group, or taxonomists are unsure whether or not a formal rank should be given. According to Ernst W. Mayr, "a subspecies is a geographic race that is sufficiently different taxonomically to be worthy of a separate name" [1][2]
Within the human species, races are not biological categories[citation needed] that can be found through genetic frequencies.[citation needed] Genetic variation within humans is (1) very small relative to the total and (2) not patterned in such a way[citation needed] as to allow for a small number of natural 'races' to have emerged. For this reason, race cannot be understood as a free-standing taxonomic system because it is always mediated through human actors that are caught up in situations of social location, identity, class, nation, culture, science and sexuality, to name but a few.
[edit] See