Cerumen types in two Eskimo communities

Data on cerumen types were collected from two separate samples of Alaskan Eskimos. The observed frequency of the recessive dry allele further documents the existence of a genetic cline for earwax types in this region and world populations.     

Cerumen phenotypes in certain populations of Eurasia and Africa

Cerumen polymorphism was studied in several populations of Eurasia and Africa. The frequencies of dry cerumen were shown to be high in Mongoloid populations and low among Europoids. Intermediate frequencies were found among peoples of subequatorial Africa. Special attention is paid to the potential for using this marker in population and anthropological studies.     

Cerumen phenotype and epithelial dysplasia in nipple aspirates of breast fluid

The relationship between presence of dysplastic epithelial cells in nipple aspirates of breast fluid and wet or dry cerumen phenotype was studied in 1,150 white and Asian American women. A statistically significant greater proportion of premenopausal white women of wet cerumen phenotype, compared to women of the dry cerumen type, was found to have cytologic dysplasia (relative risk 6.5 [1.8--22.3]). The effect was not observed in postmenopausal women. The finding offers new support for our hypothesis that an apocrine genetic factor affecting breast gland secretion may influence exposure of the breast epithelium to potential carcinogenic substances of exogenous or endogenous origin.     

Cerumen types and PTC-tasting in the Seminole indians of Florida

Of 100 Seminole Indians of Florida examined for cerumen, 44 had the dry type, 37 were wet, 10 were beady, and nine were indeterminate or absent. All except one of 53 Indians tested for PTC-tasting was a taster.     

Frontal sinus size in Eskimo populations

The frontal sinuses of 143 Eskimo skulls from two sites in the Hudson Bay region of Canada were examined radiographically. No between-site or sex differences were noted in the size of the sinuses. On average, the sinuses are small and often bilaterally absent. The Canadian samples have smaller sinuses than reported for Alaskan Eskimos or American Indian groups.     

Cephalometric analysis of the craniofacial region of the northern Foxe Basin Eskimo

Past investigations of the Eskimo have indicated that there are marked morphological differences in the craniofacial skeleton of this relatively isolated ethnic group compared to other ethnic and racial groups. This study, using cephalometric radiography, attempted to characterize the craniofacial phenotype of the Eskimo living in the northern Foxe Basin, Northwest Territories, Canada. Age changes were examined on a cross-sectional basis with comparisons being made with a Winnipeg Caucasian group. This investigation indicates that the Igloolik Eskimo has a phenotype, established early in life, and is distinct from the Winnipeg group. The overall size of the Eskimo craniofacial complex was significantly larger at three years of age and remained larger through the ages studied. Development of the craniofacial region, however, was fairly similar in rate and direction for both populations. The greatest differences between the Eskimo and Caucasian groups were found in the linear measurements assessing cranial width, facial width, mandibular length, facial height, protrusion of the incisors, chin point development, and nasal morphology. Differences between the two groups in the morphological relationships of the component structures include the angular relationships of the maxilla and nasal bones to the anterior cranial base, the gonial angle of the mandible, and the angle of facial convexity.     

Intra- and interobserver error in craniometry: A cautionary tale

This study investigates intra- and interobserver measurement error in craniometry. Data consists of 72 craniometric measurements taken on a series of 28 Sadlermuit Eskimo crania. Utermohle measured the series twice; Zegura measured it once. Statistical procedures used to demonstrate measurement imprecision include the mean difference, the method error statistic, two-way anova without replication, the t-test for paired comparisons, Fisher's distribution-free sign test, and the t-test for independent samples. The results indicate less intraobserver repeatability than expected as well as an alarming lack of interobserver reproducibility for many of these craniometric measurements. We hope these results will serve as a caution against the widespread belief that craniometric measurements are always produced with a high degree of precision by experienced craniometrists. In addition, these results suggest that investigators employing craniometric measurements to study population affinities, functional morphology, forensics, fossil primates, and human microevolution might profit from conducting a measurement error analysis as an important baseline for the interpretation of the biological significance of their results.     

C3 types and their inheritance in Finnish Lapps,Maris (Cheremisses) and Greenland Eskimos

Summary The C3 phenotypes of 909 individuals belonging to Finnish Lapp populations, 271 Maris (Cheremisses), and 63 Augpilagtok Eskimos were determined by agarose or starch gel electrophoresis. Methodological comparison between these methods, the first of which types native and the second converted C3, revealed unidentical results in 1.2% of 576 Lappish sera.In four Lappish subpopulations the frequency of C3 ^s varied between 0.9111 and 0.9784, being significantly higher than in other Scandinavian or Finnish populations. The respective figure in Maris was 0.8893 and in Eskimos 0.9365. No rare variants were found in any of the population samples studied.The inheritance of C3 phenotypes was investigated in a series of families comprising 115 matings with 420 children and a series of 53 mothers with 146 children. The results were in accordance with the hypothesis of autosomal codominant inheritance.

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Zusammenfassung Die C3-Phänotypen von 909 finnischen Lappen, 271 Maris (Cheremisses) und 63 Augpilagtok-Eskimos wurden mit Agarose- oder Stärkegel-Elektrophorese bestimmt.Ein Vergleich der beiden Bestimmungsmethoden an 576 Lappen-Seren brachte in 1,2% der Bestimmungen unterschiedliche Ergebnisse.Die Frequenz von C3 ^s liegt bei den Lappen zwischen 0,9111 und 0,9784. Sie ist also signifikant höher als in anderen skandinavischen oder finnischen Bevölkerungen. Bei den Maris beträgt die Frequenz 0,8893 und bei den Eskimos 0,9365. Seltene Varianten wurden in den untersuchten Bevölkerungen nicht gefunden.Die Vererbung der C3-Typen wurde an 115 Familien mit 420 Kindern sowie an 53 Müttern mit 146 Kindern untersucht. Das Ergebnis steht in Übereinstimmung mit der Annahme einer autosomal-dominanten Vererbung.

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Supported by grants from the Nansenfondet, the Nordisk Insulinfond, and the Norwegian Research Council for Science and the Humanities.

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Supported by the Smithsonian Institution and the Nordiska Kulturfonden.     

Morphologic characteristics of the Alaskan Eskimo dentition. III. Number of cusps on the upper permanent molars

A study of 35 coastal and 64 inland Alaskan Eskimos revealed a reduction in the number of cusps from the first to the third maxillary molar. While 97% of the first molars had four cusps, only 39.6% of the second molars and 15.2% of the third molars had that number. The reduction occurs through elimination of the hypocone. No statistically significant sex difference in the trend towards reduction in the cusp numbers was found. In the inland female group the occurrence of four cusps in the maxillary second molar was statistically higher than in the coastal female group. This may be due to a more pronounced racial admixture of white people along the coast. A similar difference, although not statistically significant, was found in the corresponding male groups. Alaskan Eskimos have a tendency towards a lower frequency of four cusps on all three maxillary molars than Aleuts. Only the second molar exhibited a statistically significant difference in this respect. A statistical evaluation revealed that in the Alaskan Eskimo maxillary first and third molars the reduction of cusps is independent of the size and form of the molars and of the suppression of the third molar. For the second molar, however, the groups with four well-developed cusps showed significantly larger buccolingual diameter.     

Probable malignancy in a Sadlermiut Eskimo mandible

The mandible of a Sadlermiut Eskimo woman, age at death 28 to 30 years, displays numerous well-formed foramina concentrated bilaterally around the mental foramina. Differential diagnosis identifies this lesion with highest probability as a metastatic cancerous lesion; of less likelihood are sarcoma, hyperparathyroidism, hemangioma, and osteomyelitis. The specimen deserves attention because identification of malignancy in paleopathological material is uncommon and difficult, and because malignancies in aboriginal Eskimo populations are reputed to have been rare or absent.     

中国九个人群耵聍的遗传多态性

报道了九个人群的耵聍位点基因。计算表明中国各族人群在耵聍位点上的遗传分化程度非常大,固定指数F_(ST)=0.22。本文根据耵聍基因频率在我国和邻近地区的分布趋势,认为亚洲东北地区应是干型基因的起源地,目前世界上耵聍位点基因频率分布格局主要是基因扩散的结果,而非选择作用造成的。     

Incidence of cardiac malformations in Greenlandic Eskimos

Summary 757 eskimo children born in Godthåb, Greenland, in the years 1957–1964 have been reexamined 1966. 10 certain and 4 probable cases of congenital heart disease were diagnosed, mostly cases of ventricular septal defect. The incidence of 1.3–1.9% is the highest registered in any ethnic group.The average mother's age of the patients was 32.1 years, the average mother's age of the total material was 26.8 years (0.01> P>0.001). The patients' average number in the sibship was 6.3, differing significantly (0.01> P>0.001). The patients' average number in the sibship was 6.3, differing significantly (0.01> P>0.001) from that of 3.2 in the total material. The social standard of the families of the patients was low.There is some indication that the incidence of cardiac malformations in the Greenlandic population is decreasing. This may be due either to improved social conditions or to a changing reproductive pattern with relatively fewer children born to old mothers.

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Zusammenfassung 757 Eskimokinder, die in Godthåb, Grönland, während der Jahre 1957–1964 geboren wurden, sind 1966 wieder untersucht worden. 10 sichere und 4 zweifelhafte Fälle von angeborenen Herzfehlern, insbesondere Fälle von Ventrikelseptumdefekt, wurden diagnostiziert. Die Incidenz von 1,3–1,9% ist die höchste, die in irgendeiner Bevölkerung registriert ist.Bei den Patienten war das durchschnittliche Alter der Mutter 32,1 Jahre gegen einen Durchschnitt im Gesamtmaterial von 26,8 Jahre (0,01> P>0,001). Die durchschnittliche Nummer der Patienten in der Geschwisterreihe ist 6,3, während die des Gesamtmaterials 3,2 ist (0,01> P>0,001). Die soziale Schicht der Patienten war insgemein sehr niedrig.Die Incidenz der angeborenen Herzfehler in der grönländischen Bevölkerung scheint abzunehmen. Dies mag eine Folge von besseren sozialen Verhältnissen sein, kann aber auch darin begründet sein, daß das reproduktive Muster der Grönländer sich geändert hat mit weniger Geburten bei älteren Müttern.

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Based on a paper read at the Second International Symposium on Circumpolar Health, June 1971, Oulu (Finland).