From: cryofan@mylinuxisp.com
Date: Wed Sep 25 2002 - 12:18:33 MDT
"Robert J. Bradbury" <bradbury@aeiveos.com> said:
>
> I'm tired of the discussions of race/IQ/etc. lacking scientific "facts".
>
> A PubMed search on "human pigmentation" reveals that skin/hair
> color seem to be controlled by polymorphisms in the Melanocortin-1
> receptor (MC1R) gene, e.g.
>
> http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?
cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11041375&dopt=Abstract
> http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?
cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11254446&dopt=Abstract
>
> This is located on chromosome 16p24.3. You can browse the gene region here:
>
> http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/Entrez/maps.cgi?
org=hum&chr=16&MAPS=gene,ugHs,loc-r&cmd=focus&fill=40&query=uid(3958)
&QSTR=MC1R
>
> There are more than *20* allelic variants of the MC1R gene:
>
> http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?
cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10537004&dopt=Abstract
>
>
> The agouti protein may also be involved, e.g.
>
> http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?
cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11833005&dopt=Abstract
>
> This is located on chromosome 21q11.2-q12. You can browse the gene region
here:
>
> http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/Entrez/maps.cgi?
org=hum&chr=20&MAPS=gene,ugHs,loc-r&cmd=focus&fill=40&query=uid(419)
&QSTR=agouti
>
> The enzyme pathways producing the hormones that bind to the MC1R gene,
> alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) and adrenocorticotropic
> hormone (ACTH) may have allelic variants as well.
>
> It would appear that the actual production of the melanin polymer involves
> at least three more genes: tyrosinase, TRP-1 and DCT. See:
>
> http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?
cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=9138477&dopt=Abstract
>
> Some background discussions of skin pigmentation are here:
>
> http://www.pigmentation.net/
> http://www.wikipedia.com/wiki/Human_skin_color
> http://www.cs.stevens-tech.edu/~elli/spie.pdf
>
> Of course this is very interesting:
> http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/6100/1skincolorandtanning.html
> "In mice, more than 147 genes affect skin and hair color"!
>
> So cite the data showing a close proximity between one of these genes
> on the genome map and one or more of the genes responsible for
> intelligence (or any other trait, like height, sports ability, etc.)
> or stop using the term "race" -- it doesn't reflect reality.
> Because "race" does not exist, the terms "racism" or "racist"
> are invalid as well.
>
> I think the terms one should use are "bigot" and "bigotry" (where
> it involves intolerant attitudes towards a general class of people).
What terms do you use for people who attack straw men in argumentation?
:-)
I have not been reading any threads on race here, but I wil jump in anyways:
Your message title says that "race is an invalid concept". But then you just
discuss one *aspect* of race--skin color.
What about all the other aspects of race, such as the well documented
differences in maturation rates, testosterone levels, etc etc etc...
Are those invalid as well?
Besides, I fail to see how enumeration of the number of genes attributable to
a particular physical aspect of an organism provides any insight as to how
important that particular physical aspect is with repect to behavior of the
organism.
Now, if you were to make such arguments in a media forum , e,g., a newspaper,
your comments and argumentation techniques would no doubt be accorded the
greatest respect. But this aint no newspaper.....
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