Genetic variation, classification and ‘race’
Abstract
New genetic data has enabled scientists to re-examine the relationship between human genetic variation and 'race'. We review the results of genetic analyses that show that human genetic variation is geographically structured, in accord with historical patterns of gene flow and genetic drift. Analysis of many loci now yields reasonably accurate estimates of genetic similarity among individuals, rather than populations. Clustering of individuals is correlated with geographic origin or ancestry. These clusters are also correlated with some traditional concepts of race, but the correlations are imperfect because genetic variation tends to be distributed in a continuous, overlapping fashion among populations. Therefore, ancestry, or even race, may in some cases prove useful in the biomedical setting, but direct assessment of disease-related genetic variation will ultimately yield more accurate and beneficial information.
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Humans cannot be divided into biologically distinct subcategories.
“Genetics demonstrates that humans cannot be divided into biologically distinct subcategories.”
From ASHG Denounces Attempts to Link Genetics and Racial Supremacy (2018) · cites this paper as [2]
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- Authors
- Jorde, L. B., & Wooding, S. P.
- Affiliations
- University of Utah (US)
- Corresponding author
- Jorde, Lynn B
- Venue
- Nature Genetics
- Published
- 2004-10-26
- Volume
- 36
- Issue
- S11
- Pages
- S28-S33
- ISSN
- 1061-4036 (ISSN-L)
- 1546-1718
- OpenAlex
- W2049881004
- Cited by
- 637
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 26 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 50 · 2020: 29 · 2019: 22 · 2018: 43 · 2017: 33 · 2016: 33 · 2015: 26 · 2014: 30 · 2013: 38 · 2012: 25
- FWCI
- 21.07
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Nature Genetics (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DigitalGeorgetown (Georgetown University Library) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Race, Genetics, and Society
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Forensic and Genetic Research
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic diversity and population structure
- Keywords
- human genetic variation, race, population structure, genetic ancestry, gene flow, genetic drift, genetic clustering, regional variation
- MeSH terms
- Humans, Genetic Variation, Racial Groups
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