--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes it is claimed by those who…" description: "\"Sometimes it is claimed by those who argue that race is just a social construct that the human genome project shows that because people share roughly 9..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef8/j-philippe-rushton-25237_arguing_sometimes-it-is-claimed-by-those-who-arg_2659541.jpg" --- # Sometimes it is claimed by those who argue that race is… ![“Sometimes it is claimed by those who argue that race is just a social construct that the human genome project shows that because people share roughly 99% of their genes in common, that there are no races. This is silly.” quote by J. Philippe Rushton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef8/j-philippe-rushton-25237_arguing_sometimes-it-is-claimed-by-those-who-arg_2659541.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef8/j-philippe-rushton-25237_arguing_sometimes-it-is-claimed-by-those-who-arg_2659541.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef8/j-philippe-rushton-25237_arguing_sometimes-it-is-claimed-by-those-who-arg_2659541.jpg) > “Sometimes it is claimed by those who argue that race is just a social construct that the human genome project shows that because people share roughly 99% of their genes in common, that there are no races. This is silly.” [J. Philippe Rushton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-philippe-rushton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Genetic similarity does not erase socially constructed racial categories; biology and society differ. **In simple terms:** Genes don’t define race. Key Takeaway Recognize social constructs. Themes race biology social constructs Mood critical thought‑provoking Type analytical controversial When to use this quote - policy debates - education - media representation - public health Key Concepts genetics sociology identity Questions to Reflect On - How do social narratives shape racial perception? - What role should genetics play in policy? A Different Perspective Oversimplifying genetics can fuel prejudice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Argue Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argue-race-2415606/) [Arguing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arguing/) [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common/) [Common Races](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-races-2415607/) [Constructs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constructs/) [Genes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genes/) [Genes Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genes-common-915129/) [Genome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genome/) [Human genome project](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-genome-project/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Projects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/projects/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Race Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race-just-395572/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Share](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/share/) [Shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shows/) [Silly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silly/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) ## Related quotes > [Recently, results of the Human Genome Project have shattered one of Science's fundamental core beliefs, the concept of genetic determinism. We have been led…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-h-lipton/recently-results-of-the-human-genome-project-have-shattered-one-of/) [Bruce H. Lipton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-h-lipton/) > [One of the good things about the public Human Genome Project is that the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Institutes of Health…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-enriquez/one-of-the-good-things-about-the-public-human-genome-project-is-that/) [Juan Enriquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-enriquez/) > [In the late 1970s, when I was a professor at Caltech, I pioneered four instruments for analyzing genes and proteins that revolutionized modern biology…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-hood/in-the-late-1970s-when-i-was-a-professor-at-caltech-i-pioneered-four/) [Leroy Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-hood/) > [The overall view of the human genome project has been one of great excitement and positive press, but there are people who have concerns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-overall-view-of-the-human-genome-project-has-been-one-of-great/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The Human Genome Project has given us a genetic parts list.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-hood/the-human-genome-project-has-given-us-a-genetic-parts-list/) [Leroy Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-hood/) > [The ever quickening advances of science made possible by the success of the Human Genome Project will also soon let us see the essences…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-d-watson/the-ever-quickening-advances-of-science-made-possible-by-the-success/) [James D. Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-d-watson/) > [We share half our genes with the banana. \[After the announcement Jun 2000 that a working draft of the genetic sequence of humans had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-may-baron-may-of-oxford/we-share-half-our-genes-with-the-banana-after-the-announcement-jun/) [Robert May, Baron May of Oxford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-may-baron-may-of-oxford/) > [As was predicted at the beginning of the Human Genome Project, getting the sequence will be the easy part as only technical issues are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-brenner/as-was-predicted-at-the-beginning-of-the-human-genome-project-getting/) [Sydney Brenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-brenner/) > [As a Christian, but also as a scientist responsible for overseeing the Human Genome Project, one of my concerns has been the limits on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/as-a-christian-but-also-as-a-scientist-responsible-for-overseeing-the/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [Some software is actually pretty good, by any standard. Think of the Mars Rovers, Google, and the Human Genome Project. Now, that's quality software!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bjarne-stroustrup/some-software-is-actually-pretty-good-by-any-standard-think-of-the/) [Bjarne Stroustrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bjarne-stroustrup/) > [Very close cousins like humans and chimps have almost all their genes in common. Slightly less close cousins like humans and monkeys still have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/very-close-cousins-like-humans-and-chimps-have-almost-all-their-genes/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [In 15 years we'll have all the sequence, a list of the genes everyone has in common and those that differ among people. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-gilbert/in-15-years-we-ll-have-all-the-sequence-a-list-of-the-genes-everyone/) [Walter Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gilbert/) > [We share half our genes with the banana.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-may-baron-may-of-oxford/we-share-half-our-genes-with-the-banana/) [Robert May, Baron May of Oxford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-may-baron-may-of-oxford/) > [“Yet, unlike the causal specificity that obtains for microevolutionary processes, origin-of-life researchers have yet to specify the chemical pathways that supposedly originated life. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-a-dembski/yet-unlike-the-causal-specificity-that-obtains-for-microevolutionary/) [William A. Dembski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-a-dembski/) > [In all probability the Human Genome Project will, someday, find that I carry some recessive gene for optimism, because despite all my best efforts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/in-all-probability-the-human-genome-project-will-someday-find-that-i/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) ## More by J. Philippe Rushton > [I then moved to the University of Western Ontario where I was made a full professor in 1985.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-philippe-rushton/i-then-moved-to-the-university-of-western-ontario-where-i-was-made-a/) [J. Philippe Rushton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-philippe-rushton/) > [A race is what zoologists term a variety or subdivision of a species.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-philippe-rushton/a-race-is-what-zoologists-term-a-variety-or-subdivision-of-a-species/) [J. Philippe Rushton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-philippe-rushton/) > [Those objecting to the concept of race argue that the taxonomic definitions are arbitrary and subjective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-philippe-rushton/those-objecting-to-the-concept-of-race-argue-that-the-taxonomic/) [J. Philippe Rushton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-philippe-rushton/) > [Unless one is a religious fundamentalist and believes that man was created in the image and likeness of God, it is foolish to believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-philippe-rushton/unless-one-is-a-religious-fundamentalist-and-believes-that-man-was/) [J. Philippe Rushton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-philippe-rushton/) > [We emigrated to South Africa and later to Canada so I went to school in several places.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-philippe-rushton/we-emigrated-to-south-africa-and-later-to-canada-so-i-went-to-school/) [J. Philippe Rushton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-philippe-rushton/) > [I received a D.Sc. from the University of London in 1992.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-philippe-rushton/i-received-a-d-sc-from-the-university-of-london-in-1992/) [J. Philippe Rushton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-philippe-rushton/) > [“Culture wars' are really undeclared 'gene wars”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-philippe-rushton/culture-wars-are-really-undeclared-gene-wars/) [J. Philippe Rushton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-philippe-rushton/) > [ But with each passing year and each new study, the evidence for the genetic contribution to these \[individual and group\] differences becomes more firmly… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-philippe-rushton/but-with-each-passing-year-and-each-new-study-the-evidence-for-the/) [J. Philippe Rushton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-philippe-rushton/) > [On average, the Chinese, Koreans, and Japanese are more similar to each other and are different from Australians, Israelis and the Swedes, who in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-philippe-rushton/on-average-the-chinese-koreans-and-japanese-are-more-similar-to-each/) [J. Philippe Rushton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-philippe-rushton/) > [To deny the predictive validity of race at this level is nonscientific and unrealistic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-philippe-rushton/to-deny-the-predictive-validity-of-race-at-this-level-is/) [J. Philippe Rushton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-philippe-rushton/) > [Startling, and alarming to many, is the conclusion that follows from these data that if all people were treated the same, most average race…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-philippe-rushton/startling-and-alarming-to-many-is-the-conclusion-that-follows-from/) [J. Philippe Rushton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-philippe-rushton/) > [Nonetheless, much has been learned by studying the statistical differences between the various human races.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-philippe-rushton/nonetheless-much-has-been-learned-by-studying-the-statistical/) [J. Philippe Rushton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-philippe-rushton/) > [The mean pattern of educational and economic achievement within multi-racial countries such as Canada and the United States has increasingly been found to prove…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-philippe-rushton/the-mean-pattern-of-educational-and-economic-achievement-within-multi/) [J. Philippe Rushton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-philippe-rushton/) > [I was born in Bournemouth, England, in 1943.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-philippe-rushton/i-was-born-in-bournemouth-england-in-1943/) [J. Philippe Rushton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-philippe-rushton/) > [The biological factors underlying race differences in sports have consequences for educational achievement, crime and sexual behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-philippe-rushton/the-biological-factors-underlying-race-differences-in-sports-have/) [J. Philippe Rushton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-philippe-rushton/) [Explore all 23 J. Philippe Rushton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-philippe-rushton/) ## More Arguing quotes > [I do wish you wouldn't argue with me when I'm knitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/i-do-wish-you-wouldn-t-argue-with-me-when-i-m-knitting/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [Any comprehensive doctrine, religious or secular, can be introduced into any political argument at any time, but I argue that people who do this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/any-comprehensive-doctrine-religious-or-secular-can-be-introduced/) [John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/) > [It's fine to talk about politics with people you agree with. But it is rude to argue about politics with people you disagree with.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/it-s-fine-to-talk-about-politics-with-people-you-agree-with-but-it-is/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [Men are fair, and they have learned not to personalize anger - they can disagree with you and argue to the bone, but afterward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/men-are-fair-and-they-have-learned-not-to-personalize-anger-they-can/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [When Eudæmonidas heard a philosopher arguing that only a wise man can be a good general, "This is a wonderful speech," said he; "but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/when-eud-monidas-heard-a-philosopher-arguing-that-only-a-wise-man-can/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Fasting is required, staying away from fighting and arguing and bombing of masjids is still going on. Hatred is still manifested between Sunni and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-farrakhan/fasting-is-required-staying-away-from-fighting-and-arguing-and/) [Louis Farrakhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-farrakhan/) > [The problem for the Left, however, is that the moment it stops painting the Right as vile, it has to argue the issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/the-problem-for-the-left-however-is-that-the-moment-it-stops-painting/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/to-argue-with-a-person-who-has-renounced-the-use-of-reason-is-like/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [You can argue that the Terminator movies reboot their world each time they go back in time, but that doesn't negate the value of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hayter/you-can-argue-that-the-terminator-movies-reboot-their-world-each-time/) [David Hayter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hayter/) > [We may argue eloquently that 'Honesty is the best Policy' - unfortunately, the moment honesty is adopted for the sake of policy it mysteriously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/we-may-argue-eloquently-that-honesty-is-the-best-policy-unfortunately/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [I'm a very serious person, but I don't take myself very seriously and I would rather laugh all day than argue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stone-cold-steve-austin/i-m-a-very-serious-person-but-i-don-t-take-myself-very-seriously-and/) [Stone Cold Steve Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stone-cold-steve-austin/) > [These eyes, tho' clear To outward view of blemish or of spot, Bereft of light, their seeing have forgot, Nor to their idle orbs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/these-eyes-tho-clear-to-outward-view-of-blemish-or-of-spot-bereft-of/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [There's crucial distinction that has to be drawn between the Shari'a, which is this hugely expansive vision of cosmic order that I've been describing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadakat-kadri/there-s-crucial-distinction-that-has-to-be-drawn-between-the-shari-a/) [Sadakat Kadri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadakat-kadri/) > [Only fools argue whether to eat meat or not. They don't understand truth nor do they meditate on it. Who can define what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guru-nanak/only-fools-argue-whether-to-eat-meat-or-not-they-don-t-understand/) [Guru Nanak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guru-nanak/) > [The surest sign that you haven't any sense is to argue with one who hasn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/the-surest-sign-that-you-haven-t-any-sense-is-to-argue-with-one-who/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) [Browse all 1,908 Arguing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arguing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Sometimes it is claimed by those who argue that race is just a social construct that the human genome project shows that because people share roughly 99% of their genes in common, that there are no races. This is silly.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "J. 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