DNA Tells Students They Aren’t Who They Thought
Remember to read thoroughly the “Read Me First” post on this blog before responding to this post. You may discuss any—or a combination—of the following as long as it results in three (3) 5-7 sentence paragraphs.
Be sure to attach your name, and the person's name to whom you're responding, at the beginning of your responses. Comments that do not meet the minimum requirements will be deleted.
Guiding Thought: I'm certain that many of you have varying ideas about race, its importance and relevance in your lives, and how we should proceed from results of a DNA test. Might some of you think that no matter this sort of test’s results, people decidedly should not change who they are, because DNA is only genetic material and does not dictate who we truly are? Might others believe that this test’s results should change who you are insofar as sensitizing people to what it might be like to be from another race, if only from a genetic perspective? And, still, might others believe that the test is either a waste of time, or is a good way to generate discussions in college about race?
Let me plant this seedling of an idea in your minds: Why must people think in terms of all or none? In other words—and thinking outside the box—could it be possible that genetic ancestry is just one piece of the puzzle that makes you, "You"? Might there be other pieces to this puzzle? What might these be?
—Prof. Ferrante
“For me, [the DNA test] is held to let the students gain more knowledge in science and its significance in students’ lives. As I read the article, for me, it only implied the help of the DNA test in informing students to which races they really belonged….This discovery resulted from the DNA test [must] affect the life of the people who participate in it. They don’t have to change how they act…but I believe [the test] helps them to know themselves better, and to know from where they come.” —Comment #1
“Many of us hope that we can find something in our DNA to explain why we look or act the way we do….The author is right about one thing—the test class did help open up conversations about race and in my opinion, I think that the college should have a class like that due to the fact that it will help make students think about what they say [and how they act around] a person from a different race….DNA shows only what a person is made of, not what’s inside of them and their hearts.” —Comment #2
“People shouldn’t be surprised when they find out that they are [made up of] more than one race…. It’s where and how the person was raised that makes him/her the person s/he is today…. It is good to know our genetic ancestry, but we shouldn’t let DNA results change who we are as people. After all, we are all human beings. It doesn’t matter from which country we come, which race we come, nor the color of our skin.” —Comment #3
posted by Garth Ferrante @ 10/30/2006 04:51:00 PM
17 comments
17 Comments:
I agree with the author when she asks why are we so cought up on race.Race does not make us who we are, that is based on how we are brought up and the environment that surrounds us.
Jean M.
The reason why we are cought up so much in race in my opnion is because is how we identify ourself and also separete from each other. I don't want to mke it some like a bad thing, but people are really proud of their race and heritage and they just want to show it off
Karla Q.
Race is a sensitive subject because people often end up defending their race. I personally would be excited to know my genetic make up, I agree with Karla when she says people are proud of their nationality, and I believe this is when conflict occurs. Often nations clash because of pride and this deosn't end well for many.
Jean M.
Response to :Jean M
From:Vienna Mouzon
We are hung up on race because society makes us aware of things that make us diffrent. People are always in search of what makes them diffrent. Although physical make ups and cells make us diffrent in many ways we are the same. Our facial features may look different but we are the same. They same way a person choice to act one way instead f another this is a choice not a color
Response to Karla
From: Vienna MOUZON
Over the years people have developed their own country. Than they made their own culture and tradition which became their own. Now that one nation made thier own identiy they begin to feel better. Although every country has diffrent race but they are considered citizen of the land. I think people should except all and learn about where they come from. But where they come from does make them who they are. Society make people who they are and that's only if they let it.
To Professor Ferrante
From: Vienna Mouzon
I would be intrested in a class on DNA too. I do agree people act funny around diffrent races. Not because they look different because they do diffrent things and some people fear the unknown. I people would open up more there would be no race or class.There would be no reason to put people in catogories. People will just be people DNA just respresents the make up of people not how people feel and how they act.
To Prof. Ferrante
From: P. Sellers-Bradford
DNA testing in most cases could reveal that no individual is 100% of any specific race. What really matters is how people believe that they should treat someone who is not of the same race as their own More importantly, they should feel solid about whatever environment they learned from, nothing should change in that area. Testing individuals to find out about what race they belong to is a good idea. Better yet, it could make a more effective world if these testing results give us more appreciation toward other ethnicities.
We must remember that people were mistreated based on their race since the beginning of time. Romans enslaved and slaughtered Jews. Germans imprisoned and burned Jews during World War II. Blacks were captured by Portuguese four hundred years ago and placed into forced servitude in various countries around the world. If people had a better appreciation of others’ ethnicity it could possibly change their view and put an end to mistreatment of human beings that are not of their particular race.
To: Prof. Ferrante
From: P. Sellers-Bradford
DNA testing in most cases could reveal that no individual is 100% of any specific race. What really matters is how people believe that they should treat someone who is not of the same race as their own More importantly, they should feel solid about whatever environment they learned from, nothing should change in that area. Testing individuals to find out about what race they belong to is a good idea. Better yet, it could make a more effective world if these testing results give us more appreciation toward other ethnicities.
We must remember that people were mistreated based on their race since the beginning of time. Romans enslaved and slaughtered Jews. Germans imprisoned and burned Jews during World War II. Blacks were captured by Portuguese four hundred years ago and placed into forced servitude in various countries around the world. If people had a better appreciation of others’ ethnicity it could possibly change their view and put an end to mistreatment of human beings that are not of their particular race.
Sorry that my entry posted twice gang!
To: Jean M.
From: P. Sellers-Bradford
I agree with Jean about wanting to experience DNA testing to gain a better understanding of our background. There is not a personal need to defend my race because I already do that emphatically. The article talked about genetics in DNA dating beyond the grandparents that impact another generation of children. Only one light skinned child exists in the family and the other siblings have dark skin. My great grandmother was a slave that received her freedom after the Civil War. Therefore, it would be nice to confirm if she gave birth to children of European decent.
To All Classmates
From: P. Sellers-Bradford
Fruit for thought - DNA testing could help the family to identify their heritage in advance of having children. We recently witnessed on the news that a white couple gave birth to twins and one baby had very dark skin looking as though it was African. However, the child’s dark genes probably were inherited from a family member from long ago and neither parent was aware. Had they tested prior to conceiving the children, they may have been saved from the element of surprise. Maybe it is good for everyone to receive DNA testing the same as we prepare ourselves about the child’s male or female gender.
Reply to Professor Ferrante
A college course that has DNA testing sample would be something to look into more for the future because things like these reveal the truth about one's behaviour to certain race. Would one act differently after receiving a result of a higher percentage black? With this generation it seems to be more acceptable than in our great grand-parents days. For me my piece of the puzzle is that Black is beautiful and regardless of what the results are I am still black.
Jean Turner
One's heritage and background is something to be proud of and as myself and Vienna was in a discussion before class yesterday, she said that her grandfather was on top of her to find our her heritage in Martenique, but she was proud to be an American that's all she knows. So, people like to learn a little about other cultures but they usually stick to their own. I am sure when Vienna gets around to it she will try to find out about her ancesters but for now all she knows is being an American.
Jean Turner
To P. Sellers-Bradford,
I agree with you that a DNA will reveal that no one is 100% of any specific race. Like me I am black from the West Indies but I know that I am a part Eurpoean because my father was light skined and my mother was dark skinned. But I still consider myself black. Although I would not mind knowing what percentage of European as opposed to black - that would bereally intersting to know.
Jean Turner
Response to Mr.Ferrante
I'm sure that race has a lot of relevance in our lives, but is it the most important piece of the puzzle? i don't think so, i think it's just a small piece of the puzzle that doesn't change how the puzzle is or turn out to be. i think the most important piece of puzzle is that makes me 'me' and makes you 'you' is the way you act, your personality, your unique looks.Of course race is important nad it's the one thing that makes this world a more interesting place but it's not what makes us who we are.
Loreen Hanna
Response to vienna
I definetely agree with your point because that's exactly how i feel,i feel that people shouldn't be put in different categories, we're all people, we have the same features although it might be differnt, we're all created equally, therefore we should be treated equally. I belief what makes us different is our unique personalities and traits.But again i can't imagine how society would be without judging people by their race rather than the person that they are inside.
Loreen Hanna
Response to Jean,
I agree with you, One's heritage is very important but how could it be important to know about your race if you won't try to learn more about that race and the culture. i know a alot of people whose parents are born and raised in different countries, and yet don't bother to teach the kids anything about their heritage and their cultures, i don't know whether it's because they don't have the time to teach their kids about their own heritage.
Loreen Hanna
Post a Comment
<< Home