Sociology

Answer this question.
What is the difference between the genetic constants and the genetic variables of human populations, and how can it be that genetic constants help to explain important differences between human societies, but genetic variables don’t?

ANSWER

Genetic Constants and Variables

Genetic constants are the same genetic heritage for every society, which remain unchanged from one generation to the next. Genetic constants are conceived to be that humans have the same basic needs such as food and social contact. Members of the society also have the same basic physiological resources for meeting their needs and desires (Chapais, 2017). Human beings are also motivated to access optimum pleasure and minimize unpleasantness. Genetic variables, on the other hand, are genes that are absent r different in every individual. Generic variability is a result of adaptive mechanisms that may no longer be needed. An example of genetic variability is the cultural adaptation to create shade to block exposure from the sun, which is an adaptation from the ancestors. Genetic variability explains variables such as skin color and hair thickness.

Genetic constants explain the differences between human societies better because genetic constants generally describe the way of life of human societies. Genetic variables only explain the differences in the genetic composition, such as race and hair thickness. A person with thick hair and another with thin hair are genetically variable, but they could have the same genetic constants (Chapais, 2017). Two people with thick hair might share genetic variability but have different genetic constants, which is a different heritage. Genetic constants are what make up human society. Basic needs such as food also create differences in societies. Every society has its own special and different cuisines. The color of a person’s skin does not determine the food they prefer. The differences in human societies are identified through genetic constants because genetic constants explain society’s way of life, and genetic variables do not. Genetic variables only determine the physical appearance of a person but genetic constants determine their way of life.

References

Chapais, B. (2017). From Human Nature to Human Society: Why Anthropology Cannot Ignore Biological Constants. In The Character of Human Institutions (pp. 273-306). Routledge.