Moscow University
Anthropology
Bulletin
Anthropology
Bulletin
Lomonosov Moscow State University, Anuchin Research Institute and Museum of Anthropology, Mokhovaya st., 11, Moscow, 125009, Russia
Vergeles M.O., e-mail: vergeles@rocketmail.com
The article presents historical analysis of different approaches to understand human biological diversity in American physical anthropology. Long-term debates got its intermediate result in 2007 symposium «Race reconciled? How biological anthropologists view human variation». All of the participants agreed that there are differences between human populations although questions about reasons and characteristics of this diversity remained unanswered [Edgar, Hunley, 2009]. Term «race», as many of USA scientists claim, means that human populations are discrete, individuals in each race are homogenous and even that there is a hierarchy with Europeans seen as superior, Asians as second best and Africans as inferior [Lieberman, Kirk, 2004]. This definition does not correspond to understanding of race accepted in Russian anthropology, where race defined as population with common gene pool and origin [Problema rasi… 2002]. Thus term «race» in Russian science is more similar to American term «ancestry» than «race». First steps in understanding variability of mankind were held in the framework of typological approach that was widespread till mid XX century. New genetic methods and studies of such scientists as R. Lewontin have played the key role in the change of paradigm. The new approach proposed denial of races because diversity within each race is much bigger than diversity between them [Lewontin, 1972]. Methods geneticists use to study human diversity were often criticized, for example Lewontin examined every genetic marker separately with no correction for possible correlation between them although this correlation influences markers’ distribution in populations [Edwards, 2003]. Some of actively developing fields of human diversity studies nowadays are studies of genetic diversity and specifics of distributions of different features, development of models able to explain origins of modern pattern of human variability. Models most consistent with reality are the complex ones, combining population fissions, migrations, bottlenecks with constant gene flow between populations. Race is also widely studied as social construct that influences biology and health of humankind. Lots of studies show possible ways to divide humanity into populations using genetic, craniometric and other data. Thus at the moment most scholars accept existence of distinct groups in mankind with notion that these groups have high level of within-group variation. Race and ethnicity studies are used in medicine, forensic science, paleoanthropology, pharmacology and other fields of knowledge. Further research of human diversity has broad scientific and practical importance.
anthropology, race, population, population genetics, DNA, classification
Цит.: Vergeles M.O. Definition of race in American physical anthropology // Moscow University Anthropology Bulletin (Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta. Seria XXIII. Antropologia), 2015; 3/2015; с. 82-93
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