RACE AND PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Group 8
Seminar presentation on Race and
physical characteristics
 INTRODUCTION TO RACE
In the context of anatomy, race refers or a classification system based on physical characteristics
such as skin color, facial features, and hair texture that are shared by a group of people who are
believed to have common ancestry.
The term “race” came into common usage in the 16 th century, when it was used to refer to groups
of various kinds, including those characterized by close kinship relations. By the 17 th century the
relative commonness of physical characteristics., the term began to refer to physical
(phenotypical) traits and then later to national affiliations. E.A.Hooton, an American
anthropologist (1931) recognized three primary races Caucasoid, Negroid and Mongoloid along
with several sub races which he further modified in 1947, based on
Caucasoid features are chiefly found among the Europeans and their descendants whereas
mongoloid features are found in the people of Asia, Indonesia, Indians of north and south
American. Negroid features are restricted among the populations of Melanesia and African
descendants Americans. However, Australoid a fourth major racial group is found by
anthropologists based on peculiarity in physical characters.
A PICTURE SHOWING BOTH GENDERS OF AN ASIAN(MONGOLOID),
BLACK(NEGROID) AND CAUCASIAN RACE
 PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CAUCASOID
Physical characteristics associated with individuals classified as Caucasoid, often
referred to as "white" or "European," can vary widely due to genetic diversity and
regional differences. Some general physical features that have historically been
associated with the Caucasoid race include:

Lighter skin tones: Caucasoid individuals typically have lighter skin tones ranging
from pale to olive to tan, although there is considerable variation within this racial
category.
Straight or wavy hair: Hair textures among Caucasoid populations can vary from
straight to wavy, with a range of colors from blonde to brown to black.
Narrower facial features: Caucasoid individuals may have narrower facial features,
including a straight or slightly convex nasal bridge, narrower jawline, and less
pronounced cheekbones.
Varying eye colors: Eye colors among Caucasoid populations can include blue,
green, hazel, and brown, although blue eyes are more commonly associated with
northern European populations.
 PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF NEGROID

Physical characteristics associated with individuals classified as Negroid, often

referred to as "Black" or "African," can vary widely due to genetic diversity and
regional differences. Some general physical features that have historically been
associated with the Negroid race include:

Darker skin tones: Negroid individuals typically have darker skin tones ranging
from deep brown to ebony, which may provide protection against the sun's UV
rays.
Coarser hair textures: Many Negroid individuals have tightly coiled or curly hair
textures, which may vary in color from black to brown.
Broader facial features: Negroid individuals often have broad noses, full lips, and
wider facial features compared to other racial groups.
Varying body types: Negroid individuals may have a range of body types,
including variations in height, weight, and body proportions, influenced by genetic
and environmental factors.
 PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS ACROSS RACE

 The interest of studying physical variation can be traced in the writings of early historians and
philosophers like Herodotus (484-425BC), Hippocrates (460-377BC) and Aristotle (384-322BC).
 Herodotus made theories such as the reason behind the Egyptians thicker skull compared to that of the
Persians, Herodotus stated that the Egyptians shave the head of the children and let them go hatless in the
sun while Persians cover the head of their children.
 PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS ACROSS RACE

Picture showing skin colour Picture showing facial features

variation of an asian(mongoloid) man
 PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF MONGOLOID

The term "Mongoloid" was used to describe individuals with ancestry from regions such as
East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Arctic, but it has been widely criticized for its association
with racial stereotypes and prejudice.

Physical Characteristics: Physical characteristics associated with individuals classified as

Mongoloid can vary widely due to genetic diversity and regional differences. Some general
physical features that have historically been associated with the Mongoloid race include:
Light to medium skin tones: Mongoloid individuals may have skin tones ranging from fair
to olive to tan, depending on regional ancestry and exposure to sunlight.
Straight hair: Hair textures among Mongoloid populations are often straight or slightly
wavy, although variations exist.
Epicanthic fold: Many Mongoloid individuals have an epicanthic fold, a skin fold of the
upper eyelid that partially covers the inner corner of the eye, although not all individuals
exhibit this trait.
Facial features: Mongoloid individuals may have a diverse range of facial features,
including a range of nose shapes, eye colors, and other facial characteristics influenced by
regional ancestry.
 CONCLUSION

In summary, the concept of race is a complex and multifaceted issue that touches on biology,
history, sociology and culture and while genetic variation and other factors contributes to
variation in physical characteristics within and across races, the concept of race as a biologically
meaningful category is not supported by scientific evidence. Understanding the basis of physical
traits requires recognizing the complexity and diversity of human populations and
acknowledging that genetic variation exists within and between all racial and ethnic groups.
 REFRENCES
Cartmill, Matt. A View to a Death in the Morning: Hunting and Nature through History.
Harvard University Press, 1993.
Graves, Joseph L., Jr. The Emperor's New Clothes: Biological Theories of Race at the
Millennium. Rutgers University Press, 2001.
Jablonski, Nina G., and George Chaplin. The Evolution of Human Skin Coloration.
Journal of Human Evolution, vol. 39, no. 1, 2000, pp. 57–106.
Lieberman, Leonard, et al. The Biology and Evolution of Language. Harvard University
Press, 2002.
Marks, Jonathan. Human Biodiversity: Genes, Race, and History. Aldine Transaction,
1995.
Lieberman, Leonard, et al. "The Biology of Race, Revisited." Human Biology, vol. 75,
no. 4, 2003, pp. 507–524.
Yudell, Michael, et al. "Taking Race Out of Human Genetics." Science, vol. 351, no.
6273, 2016, pp. 564–565.
Smedley, Audrey, and Brian D. Smedley. "Race as Biology Is Fiction, Racism as a Social
Problem Is Real: Anthropological and Historical Perspectives on the Social Construction of
Race." American Psychologist, vol. 60, no. 1, 2005, pp. 16–26.
THANK YOU
.