/8lounge/ - The "8" Lounge

I know OP is a gentleman, but I like these conversations so I'll contribute.
I wrote this up in a word doc and copy pasted it into the comment, if there are any layout errors it is due to this and I apologize.

The categorization of race is most often viewed in terms of skin color. The issue
with grouping peoples based off of skin color, is that skin has many different shades.
Pigmentation is a dynamic spectrum, not a static constant.
In the early twentieth century, biological anthropologists used anthropometrics as a way
to attempt to find distinctions in geographical population groups. Anthropometry is the
practice of measuring minute details in an individual in order to find variation and
likeness with others in their group. What was found was that there is no physical trait
specific to one population group, this makes defining race through outward appearance
impossible. As humans our physical traits are caused by our
genetics, our genotype. Genes are mediated by the environment in which the individual
resides. The way in which the genes are expressed as a physical characteristic is called
the phenotype. A phenotype is a range of normative reaction for a specific gene. Because
of this range, the phenotypes of two individuals with an identical genotype can differ dependent on diet, health, and any other environmental variable.
Because of this, race cannot be based upon specific morphological features.

If race can not be based upon specific physical components, then there must be other
commonalities that are taken into factor. Some people have brought up the point that the
majority of Europeans have lactase persistence, while many Sub-Saharan Africans and
Chinese do not. This is a genetic difference across the majority of the population, but it is
so because of cultural differences. During the domestication of cattle, cultural practices
in China and Africa said to not drink milk. While this is a definable biological limitation,
it was brought about by cultural practices it is also the beginning of speciation.
Humans are not just biological creatures. We have culture as well. Outside stimulus can
change the phenotypical traits, there are very few genotypes selected for that are not in
some way related to the environment, examples being skin color and lactose intolerance.
While there are no solid barriers between races, there are commonalities and
shared traits and genes within group populations, these commonalities are called
haplogroups. Due to breeding outside of geographical regions and cultural boundaries, these haplogroups are no longer as distinct as they once were because of modern Globalization; globalization hasn't stopped speciation, but it has slowed it down immensely.
Race can not be based upon specific morphological features because a
phenotype is simply a variation of a gene that could produce multiple other phenotypes
given its environment. While race as we understand
it is largely socially constructed, there are common differences biologically on a
population wide level, i.e. lactase persistence and immunity to diseases. Enough so that it makes a difference in the medical field, http://content.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1993074,00.html. Race is defined by commonly shared characteristics,
morphologically and biologically. This collective of shared characteristics is called
a haplogroup. Race is a difficult concept because we don't have a full grasp on it yet. I hope we will in the future so that we can put all this pseudo scientific BS to rest. The people who say "race is a social construct" and the KKK are equally ignorant of the subject.

>>3549
1. There are probably small variations of intelligence and physical abilities in races, just like certain races tend to have slightly longer lifespans, or bigger penises. These are close to insignificant though.

2. The biggest factor between different ethnic groups may be the large amount of children being born, because the more older siblings a child has, the more likely mutations will be present. This is only a recent thing and as birth rates decline in the 3rd world and as countries become "civilized" and start selecting for intelligence rather than physical or sexual prowess the human race should iron itself out in a few generations.

3. Anyone concerned with the fate of "muh white race" should start having lots of interracial sex. Disseminating their white genes across a large area would actually be a good thing. The genes won't just disappear, they will in fact thrive in being matched with a variety of different partners. The worst thing for a genetic group would be to stagnate and only keep with ones own.

4. Skin color is one of the least significant parts of your genes. The majority of your DNA isn't apparently visible. Ex: 95% of all human variation appears on the continent of africa, but little of it is visible.