Final answer:
The term used to study race formation in humans is 'human diversity,' focusing on the social construction of race rather than biological explanations. Races have more genetic variation within them than between them, and cultural anthropologists examine how societies construct racial categories.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding the Study of Race Formation in Humans
The term used to describe the study of problems of race formation in humans is human diversity. This field of study examines the inadequacy of biological definitions of race and the greater relevance of social constructs and ancestry in understanding human genetic variation. After the human genome was sequenced, it became clear that there is more genetic variation within so-called racial categories than between them, challenging the biological underpinnings of race. The American Association of Anthropologists and similar organizations have rejected biological explanations of race, recognizing the social construction of racial categories that have historically been used to justify discrimination and inequality.
Research, such as that by Rosenberg et al., shows that genetic differences are mostly individual rather than racial, confirming the weakness of using race in genetic research. Cultural anthropologists focus on the ways societies construct racial categories and the socioeconomic and cultural factors involved in these constructions. As part of an integrated approach to studying humanity, the issue of racial inequality and the social construction of race has gained prominence as a key area of inquiry within the social sciences.