Scientists began identifying race as a social construct in the 1960s as noted in the opening case of Chapter 4. A social construct is a shared assumption or idea that has been created and accepted by people and society. If people are almost genetically identical and race is a social construct, why do you think people may create barriers (conscious or unconscious) between different groups of people? The opening case is below for reference. Opening Case How Much Do Different Races of People Differ Genetically? The History of Genetics In their 1994 manuscript related to population and genetics, Cavalli-Sforza and colleagues described ancestral analysis and genetics. They assessed the genetic structure of the present population and traced ancestral roots for various groups. For example, the genetic group in the United States includes lineage tracing to Hispanic, European, American Indian, and African roots (Cavalli-Sforza, Menozzi, & Piazza, 1994). More recently, in a study conducted by Celera Genomics in the year 2000, it was discovered that human DNA is not highly different across populations. The Celera Genomics study concluded, “We all evolved in the last 100,000 years from the same small number of tribes that migrated out of Africa and colonized the world” (Angier, 2000). Other scientists have stated that people from any part of the globe have about the same percentage of genetic variability (90%) which humanity offers. Also, genes accounting for people’s looks account for only 0.01% of human DNA (Angier, 2000). Beginning in the 1960s scientists started thinking about race as a social construct instead of a biological concept. According to Cavalli-Sforza, “From a scientific point of view, the concept of race has failed to obtain any consensus; none is likely, given the gradual variation in existence. It may be objected that the racial stereotypes have a consistency that allows even the layman to classify individuals. However, the major stereotypes, all based on skin color, hair color and form as well as facial traits, reflect superficial differences that are not confirmed by deeper analysis with more reliable genetic traits and whose origin dates from recent evolution mostly under the effect of climate and perhaps sexual selection” (Cavalli-Sforza et al., 1994).
