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It seems to me that we're going to get past that very fast and go directly to HLA sub-groupings. I think that's where the future of that concept lies.

Actually HLA typing is related to a set of very specific tissue antigens involved in immune reactions. As you know, rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune disorder. Tissue antigen typing is important for transplant immunity as well. You see, you are talking about a very specific instance of genetic testing.

Genetic testing for other diseases and for specific pharmaceutical tayloring go way beyond that and is a huge and growing field. It is a leap forward in medicine.

Actually I thought HLA typing was used to classify all antigens. My knowledge of genetics is quite sketchy and superficial. I haven't taken a gentics class since 1972 or thereabouts.

But I think my point is still valid. It's true, for example, that, say, Pima Indians are more likely to get Type II diabetes than other ethnic groups,but you wouldn't call Pima Indians a "race."

If you look at sub-Saharan Africa, "they" may "all look alike" to the Western eye, but to them the difference between, say, Hutus and Tutsis is enough to kill each other.