The role of genetics in racial categorisation of humans
Date
2020
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
African Sun Media
Abstract
Only very recently in the history of modern humans have we learned how to read
the stories hidden in our DNA. The ability to read and interpret DNA has revealed
that many things are not as they are perceived to be. For instance, physical features
between two people may be strikingly different and therefore be taken to mean
that the individuals are fundamentally different, when in fact the DNA of any two
humans is almost identical (99.9% the same) on a genetic level.
Given the physical differences apparent between populations, much research has gone
into studying what makes them different. This type of research, no matter how well
intentioned, has led to the pseudoscientific arguments used to justify movements
such as the slave trade, the eugenics movement and apartheid in South Africa.
Scientists at Stellenbosch University have also played a significant role in highlighting
the ‘racial’ differences in the South African population. One such study is the nowretracted
Sport Science article.1 In this study, the authors, albeit unwittingly, reinforce
racial stereotyping by concluding that so‑called ‘coloured’ women in South Africa
have lower cognitive functioning when compared to American age-standardised
norms, and that this is due to exposure to a variety of factors with known negative
effects on cognitive function. In an attempt to shed some light on the inaccuracies
of the assumptions on which this article is based, this chapter will provide some
background to racial categorisation from a genetic perspective. It will start with basic
concepts in genetics and then expand into some of the more complex concepts and
theories supporting the fact that there is no genetic basis for race in humans.
Description
CITATION: Bardien-Kruger, S. & Muller-Nedebock, A. 2020. The role of genetics in racial categorisation of humans, in Jansen, J. & Walters, C. (eds). 2020. Fault lines : a primer on race, science and society. Stellenbosch: SUN PReSS, doi:10.18820/9781928480495/01.
The original publication is available at https://africansunmedia.store.it.si/za
The original publication is available at https://africansunmedia.store.it.si/za
Keywords
Medical genetics, DNA
Citation
Bardien-Kruger, S. & Muller-Nedebock, A. 2020. The role of genetics in racial categorisation of humans, in Jansen, J. & Walters, C. (eds). 2020. Fault lines : a primer on race, science and society. Stellenbosch: SUN PReSS, doi:10.18820/9781928480495/01.