This exercise involves exploring 2 websites:
1.What Does it Mean to be Human? (http://humanorigins.si.edu/)
2.Understanding Race (http://understandingrace.org/)

Section One: What Does it Mean to be Human?

Follow the first link and click on Human Evolution Evidence at the top of the page. Then click on Genetics. Read through the introductory page section. Then click through the other links: Human Skin Color Variation, Ancient DNA and Neanderthals, and One Species, Living Worldwide. Read through/watch all of the sections presented in each link. Based on the information you have read answer the following questions.

1.Based on the summary of human evolution presented, why might there be more genetic diversity among human population within Africa compared to other continents?

2.Why are mitochondrial DNA and Y-chromosome DNA useful for tracing our genetic history?

3.After playing the short video in One Species Living Worldwide animation, what explains the relative genetic homogeneity among modern human populations?

4.What do we mean when we describe traits like skin color as existing on a continuum or geographic gradient?

Section Two: Understanding Race

Click on the Human Variation link then go to on Health Connections and read through the modules by clicking on “next.” Answer the following questions

5.Why is sickle cell disease more prevalent in people of African ancestry?

6.Based on your readings in this section, why has sickle cell disease been viewed as a “black” disease? Why is this problematic?

7.What social factors have been highly correlated with increased cardiovascular response?

8.Why is age-related Macular Degeneration more prevalent in the “developed world?”