Ethnicity

[Lozzer]

As individuals we contain around 23,000 genes each. We share 98% or so genetic information with Chimpanzees. Between ethnicities in the homo sapienn genome, we have more in common than we do genetically, but there's a 6% genetic divergence accordingly. How significant is what difference, and if it's so insignificant, what's the average genetic difference between, say, myself and another British Caucasian?

[GenesForLife]

As individuals we contain around 23,000 genes each. We share 98% or so genetic information with Chimpanzees. Between ethnicities in the homo sapienn genome, we have more in common than we do genetically, but there's a 6% genetic divergence accordingly. How significant is what difference, and if it's so insignificant, what's the average genetic difference between, say, myself and another British Caucasian?

98% of orthologous genes. Next.

Edit - this is wrt the Chimpanzee genetic information statement, not difference between you and another British Caucasian.

[Bella Fortuna]

As individuals we contain around 23,000 genes each. We share 98% or so genetic information with Chimpanzees. Between ethnicities in the homo sapienn genome, we have more in common than we do genetically, but there's a 6% genetic divergence accordingly. How significant is what difference, and if it's so insignificant, what's the average genetic difference between, say, myself and another British Caucasian?

98% of orthologous genes. Next.

Well, that and the gayness.

[stripes4]

As individuals we contain around 23,000 genes each. We share 98% or so genetic information with Chimpanzees. Between ethnicities in the homo sapienn genome, we have more in common than we do genetically, but there's a 6% genetic divergence accordingly. How significant is what difference, and if it's so insignificant, what's the average genetic difference between, say, myself and another British Caucasian?

98% of orthologous genes. Next.

Well, that and the gayness.

[Feck]

As individuals we contain around 23,000 genes each. We share 98% or so genetic information with Chimpanzees. Between ethnicities in the homo sapienn genome, we have more in common than we do genetically, but there's a 6% genetic divergence accordingly. How significant is what difference, and if it's so insignificant, what's the average genetic difference between, say, myself and another British Caucasian?

98% of orthologous genes. Next.

Well, that and the gayness.

Wot Bella you are Gay !

[markjaquith]

In one of Dawkins' books (perhaps Unweaving the Rainbow) he says that the genetic difference between two Chimps in the same forrest is greater than the genetic difference between any two humans on the planet. So that suggests that humans are relatively lacking in genetic variation. It's rather a comforting thought. By looking at ethnicities around the world, they can sometimes seem very distinct and insular, but in fact, there is a lot of interbreeding going on. We're all one human family — even more so than all Chimps are of one Chimpanzee family.

I can think of one significant pocket of humans that is genetically isolated and might lead to a significant divergence: North Korea. It's effectively a prison colony. Given 10 generations, you might see trends emerging. There are already startling difference in height between North and South Koreans (2.3-2.6 inches in adults), but I'd attribute that to malnourishment rather than genetic variation. Hopefully the political situation there will change before anything happens. I can think of few things more horrifying than having the human race split and lose the ability to interbreed. If you think that wars over religion and race and tribe were bad when the differences were only skin-deep, wait until they're genetically bolstered.