What I found most interesting in this last lecture was the point made about culture affecting gene flow. Culture affects who humans mate with. A main example that was mentioned in correlation with this topic was colonialism. There are different degrees in how colonialism affected the gene flow in the Americas.

In the Spanish colonies and island colonies, it was very common for the intermixing of groups. This even produced a hierarchy of mixed “races”. Those with darker skin, or had a closer blood relation to enslaved individuals, were lower on the ladder than those with lighter skin or had a closer blood relation to European individuals. The existence of this hierarchy suggests that there was a great deal of gene flow among the African, indigenous, and European groups that lived in the areas. In contrast, this intermixing of genes was not as common in the American British colonies, and later, the early United States. While gene flow among indigenous, enslaved, and European individuals, without doubt, existed, it was extremely discouraged. Individuals of mixed “race” were most commonly lumped into the minority category; there was no “in-between” status granted to these individuals. The differences in cultural practices greatly affected the gene flow that occurred in these regions. The differing views of society affected the behavior of individuals which, in the cause of the United States, reduced the amount of gene flow. The colonialism that occurred in the Americas definitely caused a large amount of gene flow, but the way society has embraced or rejected intermarriage of ethnic groups greatly affects domestic political affairs. It creates this cycle of evolution in a way. Culture evolves, then we evolve to understand the past culture, which continues to evolve culture.

Another thought-provoking example related to culture is that of marriage occurring among members of the same ethnic group. When individuals insist to marry within their ethnic group, they are restricting gene flow; this causes genetic drift. In some cases, the mutations caused by this genetic drift can be detrimental. We read about the Hapsburgs in a previous week. This is an extreme example of inbreeding that occurred within their group of royals. Even though it’s 2019 and we’re progressive and everything with our society, I still find people saying that their parents want them to find a partner within their ethnic group. My Jewish friend needs to find a Jewish husband, or my Chaldean friend needs a Chaldean wife, etc. Of course, my friends aren’t trying to marry their cousins or something crazy like the Hapsburgs did, but it’s just an example of limiting gene flow. I understand why families insist on this kind of cultural practice. I think it goes back to preserving the family and cultural traditions. Sometimes people within your cultural group will understand you best because of the shared traditions. Despite restricting practices like this, through technology, modern travel, and the effects of globalism, humans are getting closer than ever. We’re discovering more and more about our collective similarities and differences every day. Sometimes it’s difficult to distinguish if we’re evolving together or apart.