A Family Tree in Every Gene [Races DO Exist: NYT]

NY Times Op-Ed Page ^ | March 14, 2005 | ARMAND MARIE LEROI

[Wonder Warthog]

"Agreed. I see the future of medicine being very custom tailored to a person's genetic profile."

Not necessarily to the "person's" genetic profile. The new cancer treatment using the euphemistically named "liquid radiation" is a case in point. Once a tumor is extracted, it is "gene-sequenced" sufficiently to identify genetic markers specific to the tumor, but NOT to the patients normal cells. An aritificial antibody is then synthesized that will bond to those markers, and attached to a chelating agent that that will bond to a radioactive isotope.

At treatment time, they attach the short-lived radioisotope to the antibody/chelant, and inject it into the body. The antibody specifically bonds to any and all other tumors that may have metastesized from the main tumor, and "cook them to death" with radiation.

Frippin' INCREDIBLE!!!

[cyborg]

The thing with racial preferences is a very sociological concept of race, plus your example introduces poor vs. rich classism. That's why I am very skeptical when it comes to science investigating race. The history of science and racial biology isn't that great.

[mewzilla]

Last I knew, the genetic variation between members of the same race was greater than between members of different races. If that's indeed the case, so much for the concept of race.

[general_re]

Fixing link to paper:

http://armandleroi.com/research/pdf/Leroi026.pdf

[Smartaleck]

"The thing with racial preferences is a very sociological concept of race,"

It can be used to right a wrong but also abused. This is true of race, religion, gender and now we have sexual orientation.

The fun of using such begins when these classifications overlap and have conflicting propositions.

For example requiring a Christian church that abhors homosexuals to hire them. =8-O

[cyborg]

Agreed.

[Old Professer]

There is a final reason race matters. It gives us reason - if there were not reason enough already - to value and protect some of the world's most obscure and marginalized people.

What a reductionist, condescending phrase this is upon repeated reading.

[js1138]

The NYT takes up the white man's burden.

[Elsie]

"but it will be hundreds of years before humanity is sufficiently genetically "homogenized" to be considered a single race, if ever."

But, according to current "E" theory, didn't HomoSapiens start from a few individuals? ToE says we SHOULD be DIFFERENT by now!

We can NEVER become "homogenized", but more and more diverse!

[Smartaleck]

HomoSapiens are still homo sapiens unless of course some are asses? There are many in Congress who are suspect too!

[BabsC]

Frippin' INCREDIBLE!!!

I agree! Aren't these the most interesting times to be living.

Can't wait for the tooth buds and other health care improvements.

[blam]

Bump for later comment.

[Wonder Warthog]

"But, according to current "E" theory, didn't HomoSapiens start from a few individuals? ToE says we SHOULD be DIFFERENT by now!"

No, Elsie, evolution requires ISOLATED POPULATIONS for one sub-population to become different from another. The sole reason for today's convergence is because the various sub-famiilies of the human race are no longer isolated from on another.

[Elsie]

No, Elsie, evolution requires ISOLATED POPULATIONS for one sub-population to become different from another.

Therefore, WW, there MUST have been a POPULATION from which the SUB-populations sprang.

From WHERE did it come???

---

Likewise, WHY would it split up?

[aculeus]

Thanks for the fix.

[Wonder Warthog]

"From WHERE did it come???"

Africa.

"Likewise, WHY would it split up?"

Rate of mutation and evolution faster than rate of migration due to geographical barriers.

[Thorin]

>>>>>>Nice to see the Times trying to undo the pseudo-science about race that they have been promulgating for so many years.

Agreed!

[muir_redwoods]

DNA is exactly what says I'm right. We are one race and we have many ethnicities which are shifting conventions at best. We all have bits of virtually every ethnicity out there and there is not a person alive who can vouch for his great, great grandmothers morals. No one knows his own ethnic make up with certainty. One might present characteristics of a caucasian Eurpoean but that appearance doesn't tell the whole story by a long shot. By what standard would a "Race" exist?

It's been centuries since populations were sufficiently isolated in any significant numbers to be called "ethnically pure" whatever that might mean.

[FastCoyote]

interesting, and a map of the history of our migration.

[Wonder Warthog]

"It's been centuries since populations were sufficiently isolated in any significant numbers to be called "ethnically pure" whatever that might mean.",

No, DNA is what proves you wrong. A single race would be genetically more homogeneous as compared to the wide variance of humanity today.

We are on our way to that single-race state, but we are a LONG way from reaching it.