A: We tend to think of race as a fixed part of our identity, a trait that is set at the moment of conception and stays unchanged for our entire liveS.Biological traits like skin colour obviously have a strong pull, [ but they aren’t alone – changes in social position can also affect how people see themselves and are seen by others. The researchers draw a comparison with our health. Inherited genes

can have a strong influence on a person’s risk of eventually dying from cancer or heart disease, but changes in diet or body weight can sway those odds throughout one’s life. ]