PHIL 27 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Melanin, Hemoglobin
Document Summary
Cline: gradient in measurable genetic character within groups of animals, correlated with gradient in climate/geography of the groups. Correlation between skin shades will always be imprecise. Use common sense racial taxonomy to pick subjects for investigation and compare pigmentation differences on a physiological level. Fails to explain racial differences in skin color bc in nature, skin colors vary continuously over populations while racial distinctions require small number of categories. Differences in physiology cause differences in skin shades, cannot cause system of racial classification. Melanin: everyone has same amount, depends on the # of cells that produce melanin. Hemoglobin: oxygenated blood cells that show red color. No simplification of the complex processes of skin pigmentation. Research on skin pigmentation differences uses subjects who are first identified by race in common sense terms.
