Does race
have an
affect on
your health?
Are your
genes causing
you to be
healthy
or not?
Does your
environment
have anything
to do with
your health?
Is there
a relationship
between
genes and
the environment?
As
researchers
study race,
genetics,
and the
environment
to answer
these questions,
it not clear
how these
interactions
may or may
not affect
your health.
Researchers
are making
new discoveries
every day,
and more
information
will be
available
in the near
future.
In the meantime,
check out
the information
below to
find out
more about
race and
genetics.
Are Races Really
Real?
“Race”
is often poorly defined
and we are left to
wonder how different
we really are from
each other. People
often use physical
characteristics, such
as skin tone, hair
texture, and facial
features to group
people into so-called
“racial groups.”
The truth is, however,
that genetically-speaking,
humans are not divided
into racial or biological
groups at all. In
fact, research shows
that regardless of
“race”
or ethnicity the genetic
makeup of everyone
is 99.9% the same.
Research also tells
us that
there
is more
genetic
difference
between
two people
from the
same “racial”
or ethnic
group
than between
two people
from different
groups.
So, even
though
individuals
are often
grouped
within
societies
(for example,
the U.S.
Census
identifies
people
as being
“black,”
“white,”
“Asian”,
“Native
American”,
etc.),
these
different
groups
share
cultural,
social,
and political
history
creating
communities
of people
with the
same or
similar
ethnic
backgrounds.
Want
to gain
a greater
insight
on “race”?
Please
visit
the “Race:
Are We
So Different?”
Project.
This project
explores
the similarities
and differences
among
human
groups.
Please
view the
interactive
handbook
entitled
“Race,
Genetics
and Your
Health:
Myths
and Realities”
(pdf.
file).
Print
your very
own copy
and share
with your
family
and friends.
Can’t
see the
file?
Get
Adobe
Acrobat
reader
Want
to learn
more about
genetics?
Click
here.
|
