The Truth About Human Differences: What Science Really Says

This is a simplified version of much longer and more academic version which can be found here.

For a long time, people have debated whether human groups are really different from one another, or if all the differences we see are just made up by society. Some say race isn’t real and that all people are the same. Others argue that different groups of people have unique traits that make them genetically distinct. Science has been caught in the middle of this argument, and for decades, some scientists have been pressured to ignore or even hide the truth about human diversity.

The truth is that human groups are genetically different, and these differences matter. This doesn’t mean one group is necessarily better than another, just that nature has shaped us in different ways, just like it has shaped different breeds of dogs, horses, or cattle. In this report, we’ll break down what science actually says about human differences, why some people try to deny it, and why we should always follow the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable.

1. How Science Identifies Differences Between Groups

All living things, including humans, have DNA—the instructions for how our bodies grow and work. When scientists study DNA, they find that human groups have unique genetic patterns that reflect where their ancestors lived and evolved. These patterns don’t necessarily mean we’re separate species, but they do mean we are not all exactly the same.

Scientists use different methods to measure how much groups differ. When we use these tools, we find that human groups have differences that are just as large as, or even larger than, those found between recognized subspecies in other animals.

For example:

  • Wolves and coyotes are separate species, but some wolves are more genetically similar to coyotes than some human groups are to each other.
  • Chimpanzees have subspecies that differ less than major human populations do.
  • Different types of elephants have about the same genetic differences as we see between Africans, Europeans, and Asians.

Yet, scientists label these animals as different subspecies, but refuse to do the same for humans. Why? The reason is not scientific—it’s political.

2. Why Scientists Deny Human Genetic Differences

In the 20th century, many scientists were influenced by political movements that pushed the idea that all human groups must be identical. Some, like Richard Lewontin and Stephen Jay Gould, argued that because most genetic variation is within groups rather than between groups, race must not be real. But this argument is misleading, and scientists today recognize it as a mistake (called Lewontin’s Fallacy).

The reason this argument falls apart is that the same pattern—most genetic variation occurring within groups rather than between them—is seen in all animals, not just humans. If this pattern meant that race isn’t real, then by the same logic, neither would breeds, subspecies, or even species in other animals. But we know that’s not true—taxonomists regularly classify animals into distinct groups even when most of their variation is within populations. The same principle applies to humans; variation within groups does not erase the meaningful differences between them.

To put this into perspective, consider two families living in the same town. Within each family, there are both tall and short members, so most of the height differences exist within the families themselves. However, if you compare the average height of the two families, you may still find that one family is noticeably taller than the other. The same applies to human races—while individuals vary, the overall genetic patterns between groups remain distinct.

These scientists weren’t just wrong; they were politically motivated. They didn’t want people to think race was real because they were afraid it would lead to racism. But hiding the truth doesn’t make the world a better place—it just makes us ignorant.

3. Intelligence and Genetics: What the Science Really Says

Another area where science has been censored is in the study of intelligence. Many people claim that differences in IQ between groups are caused entirely by environment—things like schooling, nutrition, or discrimination. But decades of research in genetics and psychology show that intelligence is highly heritable, meaning it is largely passed down from parents to children through genes.

Key Facts About Intelligence and Genetics:

  • Twin studies show that intelligence is about 70-80% genetic in adults.
  • Adoption studies find that children tend to have IQs similar to their biological parents, not their adoptive ones.
  • Transracial adoption studies show that even when black children are raised in white families, they still score much lower on average than white children raised in the same homes.
  • Polygenic scores, which look at the actual genes involved in intelligence, show that IQ can be predicted from DNA alone.

Attempts to boost intelligence through better schools or parenting have failed. Programs like Head Start, which aimed to help disadvantaged children, showed temporary gains in IQ that faded away by adulthood. This shows that environment can help in the short term, but genes determine intelligence in the long run.

4. Why This Matters: The Cost of Ignoring Science

When we ignore science because of politics, we hurt society. If we refuse to accept that human populations differ in intelligence, ability, and behavior, we create bad policies that don’t work. Here are a few examples:

  • Education: If we assume all groups have the same potential, we blame teachers or “racism” when some groups underperform instead of recognizing that genetics play a role.
  • Crime and Law: If we ignore genetic factors in behavior, we can’t understand why crime rates differ between populations and fail to create fair policies.
  • Medicine: Different racial groups respond differently to drugs and medical treatments. Denying biological differences can lead to worse healthcare for some groups.

Science should never be censored to fit political narratives. When we hide the truth, we don’t fix social problems—we make them worse.

5. Conclusion: The Truth Will Prevail

Throughout history, powerful people have tried to stop science from revealing uncomfortable truths. The Catholic Church once banned books that said the Earth revolved around the Sun. The Soviet Union outlawed genetics because it didn’t fit communist ideology. Today, many in academia try to suppress research on human genetic differences because it challenges their social beliefs.

But truth doesn’t care about politics. The science is clear: human populations have real genetic differences, and these differences affect things like intelligence, behavior, and ability. Ignoring this won’t make the world better—it will only make us blind to reality.

Being honest about human diversity doesn’t mean we should treat people unfairly. Every individual should be judged on their own merits. But pretending everyone is the same is dishonest and harmful.

Science will continue moving forward, and the truth will come out. We should embrace it with open minds and a commitment to reality—because only by understanding who we truly are can we build a better future.