Final answer:
Race is considered a social construct lacking biological basis, despite categorizations based on physical differences in the past. The concept of race profoundly affects social realities and institutions, although it is not supported by genetic evidence.
Step-by-step explanation:
In addressing the question of whether race is biologically or socially constructed, it is important to consider that the overwhelming consensus among scientists and social scientists is that race is a social construct with no biological basis. This stands in contrast to older biological categorizations of race, which have been widely discredited. The current understanding is that while there are observable physical differences among humans, the concept of race is a form of folk taxonomy that does not align neatly with genetic or biological differences.
Anthropologists and geneticists have found that the genetic variation within so-called racial groups is as great or greater than the variation between different groups. In other words, the genetic markers used to define race do not correspond to the social categories of race that are used in society. If we were to classify people based on other genetic markers, such as blood type or fingerprint patterns, we would end up with entirely different racial categories.
The social construction of race has real-world consequences, however. The way we perceive race informs social interactions, power structures, and institutional practices. It's important to recognize that while race may not be biological, the concept and the division into racial groups have historically been used for discrimination, and they continue to affect the lives of people today.
Therefore, it is the social realities of race, rather than any purported biological underpinnings, that give race its significance in modern society. This means statement 2) Race is a social construct with no biological basis is closer to reality.