Race
Race (medical)
Race (pronounced: /reɪs/) in a medical context refers to the categorization of humans into distinct groups based on physical characteristics, ancestry, genetics, or social relations, or the relations between them. The concept of race in medicine has been a subject of controversy and debate.
Etymology
The term "race" comes from the Old French race (13th century), which is derived from the Italian razza.
Related Terms
- Ethnicity: A category of people who identify with each other, usually on the basis of a presumed common genealogy or ancestry.
- Genetics: The study of genes, genetic variation, and heredity in living organisms.
- Ancestry: The lineage or descent of an individual, often used in reference to familial heritage and genealogy.
- Phenotype: The set of observable characteristics of an individual resulting from the interaction of its genotype with the environment.
- Genotype: The part of the genetic makeup of a cell, which determines a specific characteristic (phenotype) of that cell/organism/individual.
- Population genetics: The study of genetic variation within populations, and involves the examination and modelling of changes in the frequencies of genes and alleles in populations over time.
Use in Medicine
The use of race in medicine has been a topic of ongoing debate. Some argue that race is a useful tool for medical research and clinical decision-making, while others argue that it is a crude and potentially harmful proxy for genetic and environmental differences between individuals and populations.
Controversies
The use of race in medicine has been criticized for its potential to reinforce racial stereotypes and to contribute to health disparities. Some argue that race is a social construct with no biological basis, while others argue that there are meaningful biological differences between racial groups that can have implications for health.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Race
- Wikipedia's article - Race
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