All of the following statements support the hypothesis that humans cannot be classified into biological races except: a. There is more genetic diversity within a racial group than average differences between racial groups; b. Alleles that are common in one population in a racial group may be uncommon in other populations of the same race; c. Geneticists can use particular SNP alleles to identify the ancestral group(s) of any individual human; d. There are no alleles found in all members of a given racial group; e. There is genetic evidence of mixing among human populations occurring thousands of years ago until the present.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the statement that does not support the hypothesis that humans cannot be classified into biological races. The hypothesis suggests that genetic variation is not confined to specific racial groups and that there is significant genetic mixing and overlap among all human populations.
2. Analyze statement (a): It suggests that genetic diversity within a racial group is greater than the differences between racial groups, which supports the hypothesis by indicating that racial categories do not have distinct genetic boundaries.
3. Analyze statement (b): This statement points out that alleles common in one population may be uncommon in others within the same racial group, supporting the hypothesis by showing genetic variability within racial groups.
4. Analyze statement (c): This statement implies that geneticists can pinpoint an individual's ancestral groups based on specific genetic markers (SNP alleles), which could suggest a genetic basis for race classification, potentially contradicting the hypothesis.
5. Analyze statements (d) and (e): Both statements support the hypothesis by indicating a lack of exclusive alleles in any racial group (d) and demonstrating historical and ongoing genetic mixing among populations (e).

Key Concepts

Genetic Diversity

Genetic diversity refers to the total number of genetic characteristics in the genetic makeup of a species. In the context of human populations, it highlights that there is often more genetic variation within so-called racial groups than between them, suggesting that traditional racial classifications do not accurately reflect biological differences.

Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs)

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are variations at a single position in a DNA sequence among individuals. Geneticists use SNPs to trace ancestry and population structure, but the presence of specific SNPs does not necessarily correlate with racial classifications, indicating that genetic traits are not confined to traditional racial boundaries.

Gene Flow and Mixing

Gene flow refers to the transfer of genetic material between populations, which can occur through migration and interbreeding. The historical mixing of human populations has led to a complex genetic landscape, undermining the concept of distinct biological races and supporting the idea that all humans share a common ancestry with overlapping genetic traits.