[Taxacom] Race and taxonomy

[Thomas G. Lammers]

At 07:56 AM 10/7/2008, Dick Jensen wrote:
>Is it racist to acknowledge that there are such biological differences and 
>that these differences reflect the evolutionary history of our species?

And that word "history" may be the key point.  In our pre-industrial 
ancient history, the variation we see may have been significant in the 
adaptation of populations to their environment.  With modern technology and 
culture, it may no longer be true.  Once we invented sunscreen, the 
adaptive value of melanin levels may have changed considerably.


Thomas G. Lammers, Ph.D.

Associate Professor and Curator of the Herbarium (OSH)
Department of Biology and Microbiology
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901-8640 USA

e-mail:       lammers at uwosh.edu
phone:      920-424-1002
fax:           920-424-1101

Plant systematics; classification, nomenclature, evolution, and 
biogeography of the Campanulaceae s. lat.

Webpages:
http://www.uwosh.edu/departments/biology/Lammers.htm
http://www.uwosh.edu/departments/biology/herbarium/herbarium.html
http://www.ratemyprofessors.com/ShowRatings.jsp?tid=297234
http://www.kewbooks.com/asps/ShowDetails.asp?id=615
http://www.uwosh.edu/colleges/cols/StaffBooks/lammers.htm
http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Resort/7156/lammers.html
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