HOW AND WHY ARE HUMANS DIFFERENT? Human Variation

Natural Selection 1. Variation (Every species has a lot of variety within it). 2. Heritability (Individuals pass on traits to their offspring) 3. Environmental Fitness (Individuals who are better adapted to their environment will produce more offspring and pass on their trais to the next generation)

Do Human Subgroups Exist? Race is a socially constructed term Anthropologists state that race does not scientifically exist  More genetic variation exists within races than between them (All humans share 99.9 % of the same genetic code).  Race is viewed as a myth or folklore

Anthropological Response to Race Anthropologists believe that physical differences among humans develop as a response to climatic, geographical, or cultural conditions.  I.e. dark skin provides survival value in hot climates  Race (Social Darwinism) has been used by society to justify immoral political ideas like slavery, genocide, and apartheid.

Benefits of Diversity Like variation amongst all other animals, variation will allow for the continuity of the human race

The Question of Race The following video will discuss the scientific explanation for race. The video asks “If we all have the same ancestors, why do we look so different?”  Knowledge/Understanding: Explain some of the answers given to explain human adaptation from the video (characteristics that changed in humans to adapt to new environmental conditions)  Thinking/Inquiry: If race is not scientific, why do we feel the need to identify a person based on their race?  Application: If you were debating “social Darwinists” what arguments would you use to convince them that their ideas are wrong?

THE EYES OF NYE: Human Characteristics and Adaptations feature=related feature=related eature=related eature=related