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Chapter 5 discusses the analysis of human variation, introducing the different data and methods used by biological anthropologists. It reviews the concept of race and presents a contrast between racial and evolutionary approaches to the study of human diversity.
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1. You should understand the concept of human variation and some of the methods used to measure biochemical variation, such as blood types and DNA, as well as variation of complex traits that are affected by the environment. |
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2. You should be able to discuss the racial approach to variation, how it has been used to categorize people, and what problems are inherent in the concept of race. You should understand how variation on a continuum is not compatible with racial classifications, and the importance of variation both within and between groups. |
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3. You should be familiar with the evolutionary approach to variation and its focus on allele frequencies in populations. You should know some of the methods used in this approach to study gene flow, genetic drift, and natural selection, including univariate and multivariate analysis. |
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4. You should understand the controversy surrounding questions about the relationship of genetics, race and intelligence. You should be familiar with arguments about “racial” differences in IQ scores and what the problems are with these arguments. You should be aware of the political, economic, and social components of these beliefs. |