# Unique physical features of various ethnic groups? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 26, 2006, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unique-physical-features-of-various-ethnic-groups/346236 "2006-02-26T23:54:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![filemat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb8c5e/32.png) [@filemat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filemat)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2006, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unique-physical-features-of-various-ethnic-groups/346236/1 "2006-02-26T23:54:41Z")
A friend of mine claimed blacks and whites have a different amount of teeth. Surely this isn’t true, is it? Regardless, I would love to hear about such interesting physiological “features” for various groups of people. I.e physiological “features” that are not obvious such as skin color, size, width of nose, etc. Thank you P.S for anyone considering this as “arguments” for racism, consider that we are more alike than different. For instance, according to studies the genetical variation is greater withing what is often referred to as a race (i.e “blacks” etc) than between two such “races”. ---
**Author:** ![filemat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb8c5e/32.png) [@filemat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filemat)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unique-physical-features-of-various-ethnic-groups/346236/2 "2006-02-27T17:05:07Z")
Are you afraid of commenting on this? Maybe it feels too controversial? Let me assure you that it is o.k. to talk about differences between people without being negative or rasist. I am Swedish so maybe I chose a poor wording above? Mabye the term for blacks should be “African Americans”? (and, I should hasten to add, that this particular group merely was an example given). Or doesn’t anyone know of physical differences? Or maybe there are none, other than the very obvious exterior ones? I think it is a fascinating topic. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unique-physical-features-of-various-ethnic-groups/346236/3 "2006-02-27T17:16:12Z")
No, most posters here are probably just bored of that subject because it’s been discussed so many times. My suggestion is to join the board so you can use the search function, and then you can review the threads on this subject, including this one from just a few weeks ago. [Biological difference between blacks and whites?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=358328) ---
**Author:** ![newcrasher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b3f665/32.png) [@newcrasher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcrasher)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unique-physical-features-of-various-ethnic-groups/346236/4 "2006-02-27T17:40:25Z")
> [@filemat](#): > > Are you afraid of commenting on this? Maybe it feels too controversial? Let me assure you that it is o.k. to talk about differences between people without being negative or rasist. I am Swedish so maybe I chose a poor wording above? Mabye the term for blacks should be “African Americans”? (and, I should hasten to add, that this particular group merely was an example given). > > Or doesn’t anyone know of physical differences? Or maybe there are none, other than the very obvious exterior ones? > > I think it is a fascinating topic. I dunno. I have heard that male Swedes have very small genitalia… ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unique-physical-features-of-various-ethnic-groups/346236/5 "2006-02-27T17:44:19Z")
I just checked with my black coworker and she _does_ have two more teeth than I do. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unique-physical-features-of-various-ethnic-groups/346236/6 "2006-02-27T17:54:01Z")
> [@newcrasher](#): > > I have heard that male Swedes have very small genitalia… [The Master weighs in](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_193.html) on the racial, er, dimensions of this issue. ---
**Author:** ![davenportavenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@davenportavenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davenportavenger)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unique-physical-features-of-various-ethnic-groups/346236/7 "2006-02-27T17:57:28Z")
> [@filemat](#): > > Surely this isn’t true, is it? Of course not. Save genetic mutations, all humans have the exact same number of teeth. Having the same basic equipment is part of being in the same species. I don’t get what the debate is here. Of course different groups sometimes have different traits. Blood type is an example of an invisible trait that is split along ethnic lines to a large extent, so is rhesus type. Many disabilities and conditions are more prevalent in one group than others (sickle cell in blacks, Tay-Sachs in Jews, etc). But there are always exceptions to these tendencies. There is no configuration of genes in one group of humans that is not at least possible in another. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unique-physical-features-of-various-ethnic-groups/346236/8 "2006-02-27T18:32:50Z")
> [@filemat](#): > > Are you afraid of commenting on this? Maybe it feels too controversial? Let me assure you that it is o.k. to talk about differences between people without being negative or rasist. > . . . > I think it is a fascinating topic. Many of us, on the other hand, are definitely weary of repeating the same information. The following threads (limited to biology and ignoring the numerous social topics that are related) have all been posted just this month: [Football and race](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=357609) 02-06-2006 [What would happen if… (Aliens seeded some humans, not others) [edited title]](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=357764) 02-07-2006 [Biological difference between blacks and whites?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=358328) 02-11-2006 It is (or can be) fascinating, but it can also be a bit wearying to go over the same material for the 200th time. (And I can assure you that we have had _far more_ than 200 threads on the topic.) This is not a criticism of your question. I am only pointing out that the rest of the Teeming Millions may have already wrestled with it prior to your arrival. You are welcome to post this or similar questions–and if you come up with a unique question or perspective, you will probably drag us back in–but it is not fair to get upset with the TM because they do not rush to participate in the 2,000th “race” thread. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unique-physical-features-of-various-ethnic-groups/346236/9 "2006-02-27T20:49:38Z")
> [@davenportavenger](#): > > Of course not. Save genetic mutations, all humans have the exact same number of teeth. Having the same basic equipment is part of being in the same species. Eh…how specific do you want to get? My mother had no wisdom teeth. My father had a full set of four wisdom teeth. My mother had zero. Lucky me, I got to split the difference and get two of them (uppers, fortunately). Which two of the three of us is the mutant? -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Anise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anise/32/21721_2.png) [@Anise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anise)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unique-physical-features-of-various-ethnic-groups/346236/10 "2006-02-28T03:59:04Z")
This reminds me of a mildly interesting thing that happened to me last year. I answered a hand-written ad in the foyer of my apartment building from someone who was selling a dresser. I talked to the person on the phone before going to see it, and she told me that she was from Denmark. I went to meet her, and found… my twin. :eek: We couldn’t think of any relatives that we could possibly have had in common (she is first-generation Danish, I am fourth,) but there does seem to be this very distinctive cheek-nose-chin combination that a lot of Scandinavian-descent women have. That’s the main thing that made us look so alike. My best friend’s mother (Norwegian) and I share it too. I’ve also really noticed a very distinctive facial shape among people from Lapland. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unique-physical-features-of-various-ethnic-groups/346236/11 "2006-02-28T06:17:52Z")
Weren’t the Lapps once considered kin to the Mongols? :dubious: Two of the more “easy to tell” ethnicities in my Michigan school days were Finns (invariably fair, full faces wide at the cheekbones, slightly almond-eyed) and Armenians (always dark, deep-set eyes, very strong features typically including an aquiline nose). It helped that, in 1980s Michigan at least, each group tended to be more or less pureblooded. I remember thinking that someone of Finnish-Armenian heritage might turn out to be startingly good-looking. ---
**Author:** ![wayward](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a87d85/32.png) [@wayward](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wayward)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unique-physical-features-of-various-ethnic-groups/346236/12 "2006-02-28T12:44:40Z")
In a way, this question is as meaningless as asking, say, “Are brunettes generally taller than blondes?” It may or may not be true, but either way, it doesn’t _mean_ anything, they’re just two unconnected genetic traits. Yes, you’re likely to find certain traits that are recognisable as coming from a specific population (a country is the obvious example), but that means it’s much more meaningful to talk about the differences between Norwegians and Italians, or Nigerians and Ethiopians, than blacks and whites ---
**Author:** ![wayward](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a87d85/32.png) [@wayward](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wayward)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unique-physical-features-of-various-ethnic-groups/346236/13 "2006-02-28T12:54:21Z")
On re-reading, it looks like you’re aware of this, and you’re just asking for non-obvious examples of these sorts of differences. Sorry for the misunderstanding. ---
**Author:** ![grimpixie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@grimpixie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grimpixie)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unique-physical-features-of-various-ethnic-groups/346236/14 "2006-02-28T16:29:24Z")
This reminds me of the time when I came out of my house to find someone in the act of breaking into my car - he got away and I went to file a report at the police station. The officer took down a detailed description of the suspect by asking me a series of questions - Was his hair curly or straight? Was his nose flat or pointy? Were his lips thick or thin? Were his eyes brown or blue? I wanted to say “Just ask me if he was black!!” but this was post-apartheid Cape Town, and you couldn’t do that… Grim ---
**Author:** ![blueslipper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@blueslipper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blueslipper)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2006, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unique-physical-features-of-various-ethnic-groups/346236/15 "2006-03-02T02:42:27Z")
My wife is Cambodians. I have had a lot of contact with Cambodian people here in Australia and in Cambodia. I have taken my neices to the swimming pool. Also Cambodian people go to the pool I go to here. Their fingers do not wrinkle. No matter how long they are in the spa,pool, sauna,shower,bath etc. My wife thought had some sort of disease when I first showed her my wrinkled fingers after swimming. ---
**Author:** ![lechezz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lechezz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lechezz)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unique-physical-features-of-various-ethnic-groups/346236/16 "2012-11-01T02:45:14Z")
Came across this site… interesting… re difference. > **[Science on racial differences](http://www.ironbarkresources.com/defendingfreespeech/dfs05racescience.htm)** > > Various differences between the human races. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unique-physical-features-of-various-ethnic-groups/346236/17 "2012-11-01T04:32:19Z")
An interesting ethnic difference I read of many years ago; an adaptation to extreme altitudes apparently unique to Tibetans. There is a reflex that is supposed to activate only once in life, upon birth; it expands the blood vessels around the lungs when an infant takes its first breath. The rest of humanity has a defect with this reflex; upon exposure to low air pressure, the reflex activates _in reverse_, contracting the blood vessels around the lungs and making it even harder to get enough oxygen. Tibetans lack this defect; _their_ reflex is not triggered by low pressure, enabling them to survive better at high altitudes. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unique-physical-features-of-various-ethnic-groups/346236/18 "2012-11-01T04:38:43Z")
> [@lechezz](#): > > Came across this site… interesting… re difference. > > [Science on racial differences](http://www.ironbarkresources.com/defendingfreespeech/dfs05racescience.htm) I’m sure nobody will be shocked to learn this is a bunch of thinly veiled “negroes are closer to monkeys” rubbish. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unique-physical-features-of-various-ethnic-groups/346236/19 "2012-11-01T05:02:26Z")
> [@REALLY NOT ALL THAT FRIGHT(ENING)](#): > > I’m sure nobody will be shocked to learn this is a bunch of thinly veiled “negroes are closer to monkeys” rubbish. I didn’t bother to even look that far; when I saw that it was starting in with the familiar “we _have_ to acknowledge that races are _real_” rhetoric I figured it was just more of the same old, same old. ---
**Author:** ![wheresmymind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/91b2a8/32.png) [@wheresmymind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wheresmymind)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unique-physical-features-of-various-ethnic-groups/346236/20 "2012-11-01T05:44:31Z")
It’s funny, I _have_ started to notice that a lot of African Americans have much darker skin than people of European descent. I think the OPs (both the original poster, and the zombie re-animator) will be disappointed to learn that the differences between races amount to little more than that. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unique-physical-features-of-various-ethnic-groups/346236.md?page=2)