Explain how the concept of race has developed in the Western

Explain how the concept of race has developed in the Western world. What are the limitations of this approach? How have current genetic studies changed this view?

Solution

Physically visible traits, traditionally used in attempts to classify humans into clearly defined groups(\"races\"), have emphasized such features such as skin color, hair color, hair form, head shape and nose shape. Throughout the 18^th and 19^th centuries, American and European scientists concentrated on describing and classifying biological variations in humans and other organisms as well. Linnaeus classification, which was based on behavioural and intellectual abiities divided human in 4 groups.

His ranking system reflects that Europeans are superior to anybody. A German scientist divided huan popoulation on the basis of skin color: White, yellow. red, brown, and black. The main concern of the Europeans was religion and how people of different colors fit into that scheme.

All these physical characteristics are not only influenced by several genetic loci but are also modified by the environment. As a result these traditional markers of race aren\'t reliable indicator of genetic relationships, they are not biologically useful in depicting patterns of human diversity.

Since, the middle of 20^th century, more precise techniques are allowed a far better understanding of actual patterns of human variations.