Hannah Judy

Biology Seminar
Dr. Leeper
November 20, 2019

Human Variation

The debate regarding if race is real or not, has strong arguments from both viewpoints.

After reading the assigned articles and discussing the topic in class, I believe that race does not

exist. Race is viewed as having distinct characteristics that we often categorize by external

qualities. However, in order to have race it is necessary to have discrete traits and a greater

genetic difference in people of two different races than two people of the same race.

Traits such as hair, eye, and skin color are often used to categorize people into different

races. These traits however appear in a gradient of colors. These traits are also influenced by the

climate and an individual’s background. For instance, skin color is determined by the amount of

melanin produced in your organelles. Melanin production is dependent on the amount of UV

light you are exposed to. So, if you live closer to the equator, you are more likely to produce

more melanin and have darker skin, since melanin is a pigment. Therefore, we cannot use these

traits to distinguish between races because they are not discrete, they are a result of natural

selection.

Studies have shown that genetically there is 85% variation within a group. There is a

slight variation at the DNA level between humans and a smaller proportion shows variation

between people of separate continents. Therefore, at a genetic level we could show more genetic

similarities with people of a different race, rather than people of our own race. It is important to

realize that using geographic labels to categorize people is acceptable and different than labeling

people as races. We all descended from a common ancestor and shared a common image. After

time, we adapted to different climate and living conditions. Though natural selection, we have
developed into the way we look now. However, do not exist as different races, just different

lifestyles.