Can people be classified in subspecies?

[Helgrimm]

So I've been thinking, considering the definition of subspecies, couldn't you consider african americans, and say, nordic peoples separate subspecies? Why is this confined to just non-human animals? Is race some PC definition of our differences?

Am I wrong on this? please enlighten.

[Darkpoison324]

be careful you may come off racist

[Helgrimm]

Subspecies refers to either race; I'm confused as to why we use race as opposed to subspecies; black or white alike.

[Deleted]

@Darkpoison324: Only if you segregate the races socially. This is what racist means.

Biologically speaking, a race is a genetically distinct phenotypic population of interbreeding individuals within the same species. As such, yes, we have human "races". The real question is, who cares? We are all the same nonetheless. As long as you do not see one race higher than the other or use this definition for nation-centric imperialism or oppression, you are fine and not a racist.

[muto]

I'd agree. People from different parts of the world have different physical attributes because they've adapted over time to their climate.

[Gamdwelf]

Subspecies refers to either race; I'm confused as to why we use race as opposed to subspecies; black or white alike.

Subspecies is a scientific difference like between dogs and wolves which are the same species but behave vastly differently. Human races are pretty much phenotypical only.

[Helgrimm]

@Darkpoison324: Only if you segregate the races socially. This is what racist means.

Biologically speaking, a race is a genetically distinct phenotypic population of interbreeding individuals within the same species. As such, yes, we have human "races". The real question is, who cares? We are all the same nonetheless. As long as you do not see one race higher than the other or use this definition for nation-centric imperialism or oppression, you are fine and not a racist.

can we define certain peoples as a subspecies though? Subspecies in animals defines those in geographic isolation yet can still breed together; can't that apply to some modern humans?

[Kalis]

Wouldn't Homo Sapiens Sapiens be a sub-species by itself, in the same way that Neanderthals would be another sub-species?

[Helgrimm]

Subspecies is a scientific difference like between dogs and wolves which are the same species but behave vastly differently. Human races are pretty much phenotypical only.

I think I understand, thanks.

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Wouldn't Homo Sapiens Sapiens be a sub-species by itself, in the same way that Neanderthals would be another sub-species?

hmmm yeah, that does seem to make sense; we did breed with neanderthals, as I understand.

[Revi]

I mean.. Sure, comparing someone from Africa with someone from Iceland, I think you could say they're subspecies due to morphology. I'm not sure how you'd deal with everyone in between though.. From black to white is much more of a sliding scale than a clear divide. I'd think that makes the idea fall apart. Unless you wanted to define each phenotype as a subspecies.

[Kraenen]

Subspecies is a scientific difference like between dogs and wolves which are the same species but behave vastly differently. Human races are pretty much phenotypical only.

I've read that certain behaviours are considered phenotypes, at least Richard Dawkins argued for 'extended phenotypes' like Beavers building a dam or birds building a nest. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Extended_Phenotype

[Gamdwelf]

I think I understand, thanks.

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hmmm yeah, that does seem to make sense; we did breed with neanderthals, as I understand.

Neanderthal were a different species until we found out we bred with them but they were pretty different from homosapian in that they only ate meat and didn't seem to have similar social structure.

[Deleted]

Wouldn't Homo Sapiens Sapiens be a sub-species by itself, in the same way that Neanderthals would be another sub-species?

From what I can find, subspecie is usually described as being capable of interbreeding, but doesn't because of geographical isolation. So that would be somewhat true for Homo Sapiens and Neanderthals, since they were geographically isolated for some time, but then found each other, and we know that interbreeding happened, since there is still Neanderthal DNA strains in current Homo Sapiens.

[stariv]

There's more diversity between peoples of Africa, than some African peoples and Europeans. Subspecies are more differentiated than just looking a little different. All humans are a subspecies of Homo sapiens. Our subspecies is "homo sapiens sapiens"

Also wtf do you really want to open the door to racist interpretation after all this progress? What is wrong with you.

[Kraenen]

hmmm yeah, that does seem to make sense; we did breed with neanderthals, as I understand.

Last I read on wiki there was some debate on that, although a more recent study said the sapiens sapiens in europe did to a very minor extent, I think like 3-4% of admixture or genes or something.

[Netherspark]

Despite having different appearances, all humans belong to the same species. We are not different enough to be classed as "subspecies".

The closest applicable term might be breed. Though even that may imply a greater diversity than actually exists.

[Arlon]

Those who wear fedoras and those who don't. M'lady.

[Underverse]

Uh, no. People can be grouped by shared traits, but the degree is not significant enough to warrant the label of subspecies. When it comes to taxonomy, labels are everything, because essentially all they denote is degree.

So no. Not subspecies. But yes; different isolated groups have evolved slightly differently, and thus there exists ethnic divergence.

[stariv]

Most everyone is mixed anyway. I'm half Hispanic (Dominican, which makes me part black), half European (Norwegian and Italian). Wtf subspecies would I be??

[Gilgondorin]

There is no such thing as "races" when one speaks of human beings. People come in various sizes, color etc. It's simply a thing people who are judgemental in this regard adopt as a part of their defining personality (lacking if I might add) towards others. Racists (I could puke).