Intercultural Communication- Applied

As I read about stereotyping in intercultural communication, I couldn’t help but wonder what role genetics play in our ethnic diversity. Further research into this topic lead me to an article in the New York Times entitled, “In DNA Era, New Worries About Prejudice.” In the year 2000, scientists decoded the human genome. The conclusions of this study showed that humans are remarkably similar. In fact, “the DNA of any two people… is at least 99 percent identical (Harmon).” The only thing left to be explained was the remaining one percent of difference. New research has proven that people of different ethnicities have dissimilar DNA. The small changes in DNA, “account for the pale skin of Europeans, the tendency of Asians to sweat less and West Africans’ resistance of certain diseases (Harmon).” People can take tests that will tell them what percent of their genes are from Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas. This new biological research is quite fascinating, but some social scientists believe it could contribute to even more ethnic stereotypes. Everything that scientists have revealed goes against the idea that we are all essentially equal. The problem is that these discoveries can be vast and expansive- we may find even larger differences between ethnic groups. An example of this would be linking I.Q. and DNA. Tiny bits of the differing genetic code have yet to be linked to behavioral or physical traits. On the other hand, this research can be used to map the spread of a disease as it has evolved across different continents. Many of the scientists who conduct this research are scared to talk about it openly because they fear they will lose support. In the Tubs and Moss book, it is imperative that people feel that we can speak of our differences as to better understand one another. Dr. David Altshuler, director of the Program in Medical and Population Genetics at the Broad Institute in Cambridge, Mass. asserts that, “it is so clear that the economic and social and educational differences have so much more influence than genes,” in America. This research is so troublesome because desirable and undesirable traits can be identified. This makes me wonder- is it best that we are sometimes left in the dark? Many wonder whether or not society is prepared to handle the knowledge of these differences. Some people believe that these findings will allow them to better address the different ethnic groups politically. Many sociologists and anthropologists have argued the fact that, “race… is a social intervention historically used to justify prejudice and persecution (Harmon).” I find this article to fascinating because it states that we walk a fine line in scientific research. I have been taught to believe that we are all alike no matter our skin color- these findings could destroy that idea. I worry that people will not be able to handle this information as they are to strongly ethnocentric. I believe that these findings will increase the knowledge of our differences, but we must also remember to stay peaceful, understanding, ethical, and unconditionally accepting.
Bibliography:
Harmon, Amy. "In DNA Era, New Worries About Prejudice ." The New York Times
11 Nov. 2007: n. pag. Web. 6 Dec. 2009.
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