Final answer:
Biologically, race is considered a weak construct lacking scientific validity, with greater genetic variation within racial groups than between them. Socially, however, race is a powerful construct embedded in culture, leading to significant impacts on society and individual lives, and supported by social science organizations.
Step-by-step explanation:
In terms of biology, the concept of race has little to no bearing. Scientific research, including the sequencing of the human genome, has shown that there is more genetic variation within so-called racial groups than between them. There are only a few genetic markers, such as those for skin pigmentation, that correlate with the racial categories we socially construct, but these are a minuscule fraction of our genetic diversity. The biological understanding of race is thus a weak construct and not a useful variable in genetic research.
In contrast, race as a social construction has substantial effects on society. The cultural construction of race creates categories that are powerful tools for discrimination, subordination, solidarity, and affirmative action. These socially constructed racial categories have been used historically to justify unjust practices and shape the lives of different groups, impacting housing, clothing, property, and even medical treatments. Social science organizations have fully rejected biological explanations of race, recognizing it as a construct that changes with cultural perspectives and historical context.