[Taxacom] Race and taxonomy

[Richard Jensen]

Hi all,

I have become involved in an interesting discussion on my campus.  One 
of our faculty proposed a new course that included, in its statement of 
intent, the following clause:  "...race has no biological basis."  I 
took exception to this on the grounds that race is a legitimate rank in 
the taxonomic hierarchy and can prove useful when dealing with 
variability within species, regardless of whether the species are 
plants, fungi, animals, or humans. 

I have always followed Ernst Mayr's lead when discussing the concept of 
race from a taxonomic perspective: "The typological concept of race is 
thoroughly odious; the statistically defined race of the botanist and 
zoologist is a fact of nature."

So, my question to you is, Does race have any value as a taxonomic 
concept?  Or, should we, because of the abuse of the idea by people of 
all, dare I say, races, dispense with it altogether?

Cheers,

Dick J

Richard Jensen, Professor
Department of Biology
Saint Mary’s College
Notre Dame, IN 46556
Tel: 574-284-4674