title: Interethnic variability and admixture in Latin America--social implications.
abstract: Past and present attempts to classify and characterize the human biological variability are examined, considering the race concept, ethnic identification problems, assortative mating based on ethnicity, and historical genetics. In relation to the latter, a review is made of the methods presently available for admixture quantification and of previous studies aimed at the characterization of the parental continental contributions to Latin American populations, with emphasis in global evaluations of the Costa Rican and Brazilian gene pools. Finally, the question of racism and discrimination is considered, including the relation between human rights and affirmative actions. The right to equal opportunity should be strictly respected. Biological inequality has nothing to do with the ethical principle that someone's position in a given society should be an accurate reflection of her/his individual ability.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Caixa Postal 15053, 91501-970 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. francisco.salzano@ufrgs.br
authors.forename: Francisco M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Salzano
mesh_terms: D044383:Black People; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000235:genetics*; D005828:Genetics, Population; D006801:Humans; D007197:Indians, Central American; D007199:Indians, South American; D007843:Latin America; D008390:Markov Chains; D008957:Models, Genetic; D011287:Prejudice; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000235:genetics*; D012940:Social Problems; D044465:White People