Final answer:
A myth of common ancestry is primarily associated with ethnicity, which involves shared culture and national origin. Such myths help in understanding a group's beginnings and in fostering shared cultural identity. Race is seen as a social construct and not linked to the concept of common ancestry.
Step-by-step explanation:
A myth of common ancestry is a main feature of ethnicity. Ethnicity refers to a group that shares a common culture and national origin. It encompasses shared language, religion, traditions, and a sense of history, often including the belief in a common ancestry. Such myths support the idea of a group's common descent, which is not inherently linked to race, culture, or any other category.
Origin stories fulfill several roles: they explain where a group came from, establish a group's place in the world and their relationship to it, and promote a common cultural identity. These narratives are vital in maintaining a sense of solidarity and continuity within an ethnic group.
In contrast, race is considered a social construct with no basis in biology, according to anthropologists, biologists, and geneticists. While certain genetic markers correspond with physical characteristics, they do not justify the rigid racial classifications often used in society. Therefore, while ethnicity is closely tied to common ancestry myths, race is not.