Human Biological Diversity and the Race Concept

How do contemporary anthropologists deal with issues of human biological diversity and race?
1. Racial classification (now largely abandoned)
2. Current explanatory approach
-focuses on specific differences
Racial Classification
Pigeonhole people into categories called races.
Attempt to assign humans to discrete categories (purportedly) based on common ancestry
What is race anyway?
Biological Race
A geographically isolated subdivision of a species.
Species
Is a population whose members can interbreed to produce offspring that can live and reproduce.
Does biological races do exist among humans?
Race
Supposedly reflects genetic ancestry, but racial classifications are usually based on phenotypical
traits (e.g., skin color)
Phenotype
Refers to an organisms evident traits, its manifest biologyanatomy and physiology
Examples of Evident Physical Traits of Humans
1. Skin color
2. Hair form
3. Eye color
4. Facial features
5. Blood groups
Problem in Using Phenotype in Racial Classification
Which is important in classifying the race? Is it the height, weight, body shape, facial features,
teeth, skull form or skin color?
Skin Color
Was prioritized by the European and American scientists in defining the race of a certain group.
The Three Great Races
Were based on skin color.
White, Black and Yellow or the Caucasoid, Negroid and Mongolid
The Problems in Classifying the Race Through Skin Color
1. Polynesian- bronze skin
2. Native Americans- red skin
3. Southern Indian- black but with Caucasian facial features.
4. Native Australian- black but with light or reddish hair
5. Bushmen- brown to yellow skin color
The Problems in Classifying the Race Through Facial Feature
1. Nilotes (Sudan and Uganda)- Tall and have a long, narrow nose
similar to the Scandinavian.
Problems With Racial Labels
a)
the labels do not accurately describe skin color (white and Hispanic can vary)

b)
The three initial groupings (Caucasoid, Negroid and Mongoloid) did not cover all groups,
therefore, additional races had to be added
c)
Another problem is that phenotypical characteristics on which races are based supposedly
reflects genetic material that is shared and has stayed the same for long periods of time, but
phenotypes do not have to have a genetic basis
d)

An example of a non-genetic issue is the initially short statured population of Japan

e)
This lack of height was based on diet and as Japanese begin to eat less traditional foods
the average height has begun to increase
Explanatory Approach
Natural selection
Refers to the process by which nature selects the forms most fit to survive and reproduce in a
given environment (less fit organisms die out).
Ideas of Charles Darwin and Alfred Russell Wallace.
It can explain human biological diversity.
Part of explanatory approach.
Melanin
is the primary determinant of skin color and the melanin cells of darker skinned people produce
more and larger granules of melanin than do those of lighter skinned people.
a substance manufactured in specialized cells in the lower layers of the epidermis (outer skin
layer).
Natural selection or resistance levels to ultra violet radiation explains the geographic distribution
of skin color
e) In northern Europe where clothing is important for
protection from the cold vitamin D production (from
UV radiation) is reduced potentially diminishing the
absorption of Calcium by the intestines and leading
to rickets (a softening of the bones)
f) The protection against this is light skin color which
maximizes the absorption of UV radiation
g) In the tropics the dark skin color protects against
excessive absorption of UV radiation since too
much radiation can lead to hypervitaminosis where
calcium deposits build up in the bodys soft tissues
(potentially fatal)
a) The darkest populations in Africa evolved in the
sunny open grasslands
b) Once one leaves the tropics located between the
tropics of Cancer and Capricorn (north or
south)skin color gets lighter
c) In the tropics those with the darker skin color are
more protected from UV radiation (sunburn
increases potential for disease and impairs the

bodys ability to sweat and UV radiation can cause

skin cancer)
d) Another issue relating to geographic distribution of
skin color is vitamin D production by the body
Cultural Forces Shape Human Biology
Anthropology's comparative, biocultural perspective recognizes that environmental factors,
including cultural forces, constantly mold human biology.
Biocultural
Refers to the inclusion and combination of both biological and cultural perspectives and
approaches to comment on or solve a particular issue or problem.
Culture
a key environmental force in determining how human bodies grow and develop.
Cultural traditions
Promote certain activities and abilities, discourage others, and set standards of physical wellbeing and attractiveness. For example, cultural standards of attractiveness and propriety
influence participation and achievement in sports.
The Subdisciplines of Anthropology
Cultural Anthropology
The study of human society and culture, the subfield that describes, analyzes, interprets, and
explains social and cultural similarities and differences.
Two Dimensions of Cultural Anthropology
Based on fieldwork
Provides an account of a particular community, society, or culture.
1. Ethnography
During ethnographic fieldwork, he/she gathers data that he or she organizes, describes, analyzes,
and interprets to build and present that account, which may be in the form of a book, article, or
film.
Ethnographer
Ethnographic Fieldwork
Differs from economic and political science.
Economic and Political Science
Focus on national and official organizations and policies and often on elites.
Anthropologists
Studied poor and powerless or those who experience food shortage, dietary deficiencies and
other aspects of poverty.
Political Scientist
Study programs that national planner develop.
Anthropologists
Discover how these programs work on the local level.
Conclusions on Cultural Anthropology
Interactions with one another affect the people and places anthropology traditionally has studied.
Arrival of tourists, development agents, government and religious officials and political
candidates make societies change.
2. Ethnology
Based on cultural comparison.

Examines, interprets, analyzes, and compares the results of ethnographythe data gathered in
different societies.
Compare and contrast data and make generalization about society and culture.
Identify and explain cultural differences and similarities, to test hypotheses, and build theory to
enhance our understanding of how social and cultural systems work.
Archeological Anthropology
Archeological Anthropology
Reconstruct, describes and interprets human behavior and cultural pattern through material
remains.
It includes plants and animals remains and ancient garbage.
Archeologists
Also reconstruct ecological pattern.
Paleocology
Study ecosystem of the past.
Ecology
Study interrelations among living things in the environment.
Ecosystem
Patterned arrangement of energy and exchanges.
Human Ecology
Studies ecosystem that include people, focusing on the ways in which human use of nature
influences and is influemced by social organization and cultural values.
How Do Archeological Anthropologists Work
1. Reconstruct ecological pattern.
2. Infer cultural transmission (observing changes in the
size and types of sites and distance between them)
3. Reconstruct behavior patterns and lifestyles of the
past by excavating.
4. Aside from studying prehistory, they also study the
culture of historical and even living people.
Biological or Phjysical Anthropology
Biological Anthropology
Its subject matter is human biological diversity in time and space.
Link to biology, zoology, geology, anatomy, physiology, medicine and public health.
Osteology
Study of bones.
Helps paleoanthropologists.
Paleoanthropologists
Examine skulls, teeth and bone to identify human ancestors and to chart the changes in anatomy
overtime.
Is a sort of paleontologist.
Often elaborates with archeologist who study artifacts in reconstructing biological and cultural
aspects of human evolution.
Paleontologist
The scientist who studies fossil record of human evolution.
Fossils of animals and plants very long ago.
Fossils and Tools

Are usually found together.

Different Types of Tools
Provide information about the habits, customs and lifestyle of the ancestral humans who used
them
Charles Darwin
Noticed that the variety exixts within any population permits some individuals (those with
favored charateristics) to do better than others at survivng and reproducing.
Genetics
Causes transmission of this varieties, however, it is not the sole reason that causes variety.
Environment
Works along with heredity to determine biological features.
Ex. Genetis tendency to be tall will be shorter if they are poorly nourished during childhood.
Five Special Interests within Biological Anthropology
1. Human evolution as revealed by the fossil record
(paleoanthropology).
2. Human genetics.
3. Human growth and development.
4. Human biological plasticity.
5. The biology, evolution, behavior, and social life of monkeys,
apes, and other nonhuman primates.
Biological Anthropology
Also investigates the influence of environmental factors that influences the body as it grows and
mature.
Environmental Factors that Influences the Body as It Develop
1. Nutrition
2. Altitude
3. Temperature
4. Diseases
5. Cultural Factors (standards of attractiveness)
Primatology
Includes in biological anthropology.
Assist paleoanthropology because primates behavior may shed light on early human behavior
and human nature.
Primates
Includes apes and monkeys.
Primotologists
Study primates biology, evolution, behavior and social life, often in their natural environment.