Evolution and the idea of "race"

[Superman]

Here is what the department of paleoanthropology at the Smithsonian has to say about this. For those of you that think "races" are somehow biological, I suggest you read this.

http://www.mnh.si.edu/anthro/humanorigins/faq/race.htm

[Admiral Valdemar]

If I've said it before, I've said it a thousand times to those nutjob racists; humans are polymorphic, not polytypic. Race doesn't exist with us and anyone that says otherwise is a fucking moron.

Good article anyway.

[Yuri Prime]

In a recent debate a funie moron claimed that humans are different from mammals and are not animals. I'm begining to think that some people are simply too far gone to have a rational conversation with.

[Admiral Valdemar]

In a recent debate a funie moron claimed that humans are different from mammals and are not animals. I'm begining to think that some people are simply too far gone to have a rational conversation with.

Yep, the old classic that we are not animals is always a hoot. It's like we didn't evolve but just existed and aninals and plants suddenly appeared after through evolution.

There is nothing amazingly different between us and my Labrador other than we're smarter and don't lick our balls to take away the taste of dog food.

[Queeb Salaron]

There is nothing amazingly different between us and my Labrador other than we're smarter and don't lick our balls to take away the taste of dog food.

Speak for yourself, dude.

::Munches and licks: Kibbles and Bits with a hairy, sweaty chaser.::





Wow. That was just obscene.

But way too good an opportunity to pass up.

[Rye]

Would "breed" be a more accurate name than race?

[BlkbrryTheGreat]

Would "breed" be a more accurate name than race?

Not really, breeds have very differnt physical (size, jaw structure, etc) and mental characteristics, even though they are still capable of "breeding" with one another. Humans are more like dogs of the same breed who have different colorations.

[RedImperator]

Would "breed" be a more accurate name than race?

Not really, breeds have very differnt physical (size, jaw structure, etc) and mental characteristics, even though they are still capable of "breeding" with one another. Humans are more like dogs of the same breed who have different colorations.

More like the difference between breeds of cats than breeds of dogs, and even among cats you get significant physical variarions you don't see in humans--certain breeds are tailless, for example. It's like the difference between a Siamese and a generic shorthair tabby.

[InnerBrat]

Here is what the department of paleoanthropology at the Smithsonian has to say about this. For those of you that think "races" are somehow biological, I suggest you read this.

http://www.mnh.si.edu/anthro/humanorigins/faq/race.htm

Read it. Know most of it. Agree with it.

Hate to say it, Superman, but 'phenotypic variation' is biological.

You mena they're not taxonomic, which I'll agree with.

[Rye]

Would "breed" be a more accurate name than race?

Not really, breeds have very differnt physical (size, jaw structure, etc) and mental characteristics, even though they are still capable of "breeding" with one another. Humans are more like dogs of the same breed who have different colorations.

More like the difference between breeds of cats than breeds of dogs, and even among cats you get significant physical variarions you don't see in humans--certain breeds are tailless, for example. It's like the difference between a Siamese and a generic shorthair tabby.

Are there different breeds among the other great apes? IF so, are they more diverse than us, or less?

[Sokar]

The concept of a biological component for race has been shot down so many times, it has no scientific validity at all.
Humans are one of the most genetically homogenous species on the entire planet. There is more genetic variation between two Lab Retrievers
with diffrent parents than there is between two humans from opposite sides of the globe. Nor have humans been confined or seperated from population drift long enough for there to have been speciation. Human variation is the result of clinal environmental adaptation, not speciation.

[Sokar]

Are there different breeds among the other great apes? IF so, are they more diverse than us, or less?

They are actually MORE diverse genetically, most of the Great Ape species are actually older than homo sapiens, were a rather 'new' branch of the genus homo who's original gene material came for a very isolated geographic area.

[InnerBrat]

Don't start comparing genetic diversity within different species unless you wnat to conced that humans are in fact the same species as chimps, OK?

Genetic diversity varies too much between taxa.

[Admiral Valdemar]

Don't start comparing genetic diversity within different species unless you wnat to conced that humans are in fact the same species as chimps, OK?

Genetic diversity varies too much between taxa.

I have seen racist donkey fuckers go to extremes trying to prove race exists to the point that anyone with blonde or brown hair is a totally different species to redheads and black haired humans.

[NapoleonGH]

interestingly i seem to recall reading (maybe from a Stephen Jay Gould essay, maybe not, i cannot remember the source unfortunatly) that there was greater genetic variation among those called "black" aka africans than among all other "races"

and you know what it is from a Stephen Jay Gould essay, from his last essay collection "I Have Landed"

[InnerBrat]

interestingly i seem to recall reading (maybe from a Stephen Jay Gould essay, maybe not, i cannot remember the source unfortunatly) that there was greater genetic variation among those called "black" aka africans than among all other "races"

and you know what it is from a Stephen Jay Gould essay, from his last essay collection "I Have Landed"

Of course there is. All other races originated in Africa and emigrated out 100kya. African races have been established there for millions of years.

[PainRack]

I have only one word.

"Huh??"

I don't give a damn what race you are so long as you aren't an obnoxious bastard..