This week we discuss population genetics and how the statistical construct that we refer to as ancestry differs from the concepts of racial/cultural identity and the social construct of race.

This week we will:

  • Learn how semi-random patterns of mutation and inheritance, often within DNA regions of little to no functional consequence, give rise to the statistical concept of ancestry.
  • Understand the differences between the concepts of ancestry, identity, and race.
  • Introduce how wrong conclusions arise when ancestry, identity, and race are conflated in scientific research or communication.

First, let’s start with a high-production-quality presentation of the basics:

Crash Course Biology: Population Genetics (11:03)

These notes are intended to be a good enough introduction to a very complex process (population genetics), which is enough to build an entire course around (at UIUC: ANSC 446 / IB 416). For more details right now, I recommend Dr. Graham Coop’s lecture notes: https://cooplab.github.io/popgen-notes/

Next: 6.1. Population Genetics

Previous: 5.2. Activity: Summarize an Empirical Source

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