66 years after the discovery of the structure of DNA, a position statement by the American Association of Physical Anthropologists clarifies what it tells us about human variation.
the publication of James Watson and Francis Crick’s famous paper in 1953 describing the structure of DNA. As we reflect back on the incredible scientific progress that has been made since this paper, one of the most striking developments is how the study of our own genomes has changed our understanding of human variation
Professor Robin Nelson , who was involved in writing the statement, commented, "The AAPA has a responsibility to provide scientifically accurate information to the public about race and racism. This statement reflects our commitment to engaging in these sometimes difficult conversations.
Tina Lasisi, a Ph.D. student at Penn State University who helped write the statement, sums it up this way “We aren't denying that patterns of genetic variation exist, in fact that's precisely what most of us study. We are however saying that race is not a useful framework for discussing or investigating human biological variation and continuing to use it stalls science more than it advances it.
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