Human Biodiversity: Genes, Race, and History

by Jonathan Marks

The present volume is an attempt to synthesize, present, and argue for what has been learned and remains to be learned about the biological differences within and among human groups. Marks, a biologist as well as an anthropologist, avails himself of the data generated by molecular genetics about the hereditary composition of the human species. As it happens, genetics has undermined the fundamental assumptions of racial taxonomy, for genetic variation has turned out to be, to a large extent, polymorphism (variation within groups) rather than polytypy (variation among groups). Though populations at geographical extremes can be contrasted, the fundamental units of the human species are populations rather than races. Further, genetics provides little in the way of reliable biological history of : our species, because human populations are culturally-defined, as well as biological, entities. Genetics has also been used as a scientific validation for cultural values - from the idea that there is indeed a small number of genetically distinct kinds of people ("races") to be identified, to more pervasive suggestions about the relationship of genetics to behavior. In its presentation of the biocultural nature of human diversity as well as in its presentation of the history of the problem and the illusions embedded in that history, this will be a widely used textbook that fills a void in the literature of biology and of physical anthropology.

Genres: Science, Anthropology, Genetics, Race, History, Nonfiction

321 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Matthijs Krul · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a little different than I expected. I'd assumed it was more about the current state of research on human biodiversity, but in fact it's a philosophical and especially historical discussion of how people have thought about this subject in the past and about all the various kinds of race theories, eugenicisms, etc that have emerged out of genetic research. This discussion is interesting enough in its own right, and perhaps makes the book more enduringly useful (given it was written in 1995, it would be rather outdated empirically anyway). The main point of the book, however, is to polemicize in more general terms against the various 'hereditarianisms' that prevail in our own time as well, and the fruitless quests to 'find' classifications that happen to fit with our (or rather, Americans') current political and cultural ideas as natural kinds in the biodiversity of the human species.

Marks of course nowhere denies that such biodiversity exists. But he does argue on solid philosophical grounds why this does not mean that there are genes 'for' aggression, or that rape in humans is 'just like' that in remote animal species, or that there are definite races in the human population that can be identified on the basis of variation in a single allele. Moreover, he makes important points regarding the responsibility of scientific researchers in this field. He points out that although things like the eugenics movement are often depicted as 'abuses of science', they were in fact advocated by the leading scientists in question. Similarly, it will not do to proclaim a naive neutrality in the research into genetic bases of favorable or unfavorable traits in the human population. Whatever the researchers' claimed intent, Marks argues, such research has been and will be used with political purpose, and that likelihood cannot, from the viewpoint of research ethics, be ignored.

Some of the history and philosophy of science in the book is a bit superficial, and certainly would not impress specialists in those fields. There is also little explicit engagement with specific claims from hereditarians in our times, with the exception of some references to contemporary 'scientific racists' like JP Rushton and Richard Lynn. This is mainly because Marks prefers to make the points more generally, rightly pointing out that the pattern of 'finding' social hierarchies in the 'natural order of things' is a perennially recurring phenomenon anyway. As an introduction to that topic, this is a very useful book.

[Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A staunchly scientific accounting of effort over time to connect human behavior and race with genetics. The genetic realities force the recognition that race is a wholly social distinction and that while there is likely in some cases a degree of genetic basis for some behaviors,science have regually failed to show those connection in studies due to lack of ability or lack of attention in controlling variable and providing controls.

I was not familiar with the eugenics movement of the early part of the 20th century and found it astounding that credible scientist could make such claims.

[Bethany N. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really got into reading this book towards the end of the semester for Human Variation with Dr. Curran at Ohio University. I especially loved the quote about first-person sacrifice on p. 276-277. Really thoughtful arguments and an interesting look at human variation in history.

[Janelle C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very important book looking at the history of science and race.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this, but its been a few moons since then.