On Thu, 21 Feb 2002 19:29:28 EST, Allan Harvey wrote"
<<In response to a statement I made about the concept of "races" of humans
being scientifically dubious, Norm Woodward wrote:
>Could you elaborate on that statement... I understand that genetics have
>proved that we have all come from common ancestors, and, possibly, that we
>are of the same species (the point of contention in my original post), but
>does it in any way cast the idea of "strains" or "subspecies" or "races"
in
>doubt. After all, for example, genetically, I believe, various groups are
>susceptible to different illnesses. I have been told that such
resistances
>are enough to classify micro-organisms, if not higher creatures. Could
this
>be a basis of further breakdown of our species?
>>
Yesterday, I received by email the table of contents for the latest edition
of The Scientist (Feb. 18, 2002). One of the lead articles deals directly
with the question that Norm asks here -- what is the effect of race
'differences' or 'non-differences' on susceptibility to illnesses. The
article is entitled "Race and the Clinic: Good Science?" with a subtitle of
"Human genome findings practically erase race as a biological factor".
Since this is not my field and only a side interest, I will not attempt to
summarize the article but direct you to the Web version at
http://www.the-scientist.com/yr2002/feb/lewis_p16_020218.html
Steve
[Opinions expressed here are my own and are not to be attributed to my
employer]
_____________
Steven M. Smith, Geologist Office: (303)236-1192
U.S. Geological Survey Fax: (303)236-3200
Box 25046, M.S. 973, DFC smsmith@usgs.gov
Denver, CO 80225
--USGS Nat'l Geochem. Database NURE HSSR Data Web Site--
http://greenwood.cr.usgs.gov/pub/open-file-reports/ofr-97-0492/
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