Some genetic traits in Solomon Island populations. II. Hand clasping, arm folding, and handedness

Among 1,438 persons in four Solomon Island populations, handclasp showed no age, sex, or tribal differences. The percentage of R-claspers (right thumb on top), 66.4, exceeded those previously reported for Caucasian and Mongoloid peoples and resembled those for Oceanic and African samples. Handclasp was associated with handedness but not with armfold; it showed no assortative mating and no simple form of inheritance. Armfold showed an age association (more R-folders among the youngest children), but none with sex or tribe, no assortative mating, and no pattern of inheritance. Its frequency, 41.4%, resembled those of populations around the world. Left handedness, 2.8% over all four tribes, paralleled contact with Western culture.     

Information on dermatoglyphic systems of the toes and soles of the feet among the Kalenjins of Kenya

The frequencies of quantitative and qualitative dermatoglyphic features of the toes and soles of 108 males and 108 females of two tribes from Northern Kenya are reported. These tribes are classified among the Kalenjin. The data are compared with those from other populations.     

Genetic distance and gene diversity among linguistically different tribes of Mexican Indians.

Using gene frequency data for 14 genetic loci, genetic distances between 13 tribes of Mexican Indians belonging to 12 language groups were determined and a dendrogram was constructed. The genetic distance between tribes is correlated more with geographic proximity than with language affinity. The gene diversity (heterozygosity) of the total population was decomposed into the three components, i.e., the gene diversity between three main linguistic groups, the gene diversity between tribes within the main linguistic groups and the gene diversity within tribes. About 95% of the total gene diversity exists within tribes, the intergroup and intertribe components being only about 5%.     

Transferrins,haptoglobins, and ceruloplasmins among tribal groups of Madagascar

Transferrin phenotypes of 403 Malagasy were determined by autoradiography after electrophoresis of plasma or serum. Three phenotypes, Tf C, Tf CD, and Tf D, were found. The frequency of Tf^D was 0.051 in the total sample, 0.041 in tribes of the Madagascar plateau, and 0.075 in tribes of the coastal and lowland regions. Haptoglobin phenotypes of 402 Malagasy were determined. The frequency of Hp¹ was 0.41 in the total sample, 0.38 in tribes of the plateau, and 0.49 in coastal-lowland tribes. There is a significant difference in the frequency of Hp¹ between the tribes of the plateau and those of the coastal and lowland regions. This confirms earlier observations of significant differences in frequencies of haptoglobins and hemoglobin S. Plasma or serum samples from 405 Malagasy were examined by electrophoresis to determine ceruloplasmin phenotypes. Seven distinct ceruloplasmin bands were observed. These were A, B, Galveston, Bridgeport, New Haven, Tananarive, and X, the last two described for the first time. Ten different phenotypes composed of one or two of the bands were observed. The frequency of the allele for ceruloplasmin B (CpB) was 0.78 in the total sample, 0.73 in tribes of the plateau, and 0.92 in coastal and lowland tribes. There is a significant difference in the frequency of this allele in the two major tribal groups, and this provides additional evidence of genetic differences between the peoples of the plateau and those of the coast and lowland regions of Madagascar.     

Some genetic traits in Solomon Island populations. IV. Mid-phalangeal hair

Among 425 Lau and 467 Baegu of northern Malaita, there were no tribal differences in mid-phalangeal hair. The trait was present more often in males than in females, and after puberty than before it. Age differences were more marked for males than for females. Among 168 men 20 years of age and older in both tribes, the frequency of mid-phalangeal hair was 58.3%; among 189 women of similar age, 34.4%. These frequencies were at or just below those reported for Caucasian samples, just above that for Japanese, and considerably above those for Negroes and American Indians. Analysis of family data did not confirm the hypothesis that the absence of mid-phalangeal hair is recessive to its presence.     

Demographic and evolutionary trajectories of the Guarani and Kaingang natives of Brazil

A total of 278 individuals from two Brazilian Indian tribes (Guarani and Kaingang) living in five different localities had their mitochondrial DNA sequenced for the first hypervariable segment (HVS-I), and a fraction of them was also studied for seven biallelic Y-chromosome polymorphisms. Nineteen HVS-I lineages were detected, which showed distinct distributions in the two tribes. The G(ST) value obtained with the mtDNA data is about 5 times higher for the Guarani as compared to the Kaingang, suggesting a higher level of differentiation between the three Guarani partialities than between the two Kaingang villages. Non-Amerindian admixture varied with sex and in the Guarani was only observed through the paternal line. Using these data and those of other Tupian and Jêan tribes, it was possible to make inferences about past migratory movements and the genetic differentiation of these populations.     

HLA and mate selection: no evidence in South Amerindians.

There have been reports of nonrandom mating (negative-assortative mating) or preference for individuals of different major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genotypes in both mice and humans. We have examined the association of HLA-A and HLA-B genotypes, both for each locus by itself and for two-locus genotypes, in mates of 194 couples from 11 South Amerindian tribes. The proportion of couples sampled averaged >50% of the total matings with progeny for 10 of the tribes. In nearly all cases, HLA-sharing proportions were very close to those expected from random mating, suggesting strong negative-assortative mating for MHC is not present in these South Amerindians.     

Blood genetic systems in four Amazonian tribes.

Data on 31 genetic systems were obtained for 421 individuals belonging to the Arara, Araweté, Mundurucu, and Jamamadi tribes of northern Brazil. The Jamamadi depart farthest, and the Mundurucu least, from South American Indian averages. These data are analyzed together with those of 24 other Amazonian groups. Genetic distances and corresponding dendrograms indicate a cluster of 14 related tribes living north of the Amazon river. These genetic results show only a modest correlation with linguistic and geographic relationships among these groups.     

Clinico-genetical analysis of colonic cancer. I. Occurrence, frequency in families and segregation analysis

The data on clinico-genealogic studies of colon cancer are presented. 694 families were examined with 432 probands having rectal and 262 colonic carcinoma among them. Clear family accumulation of colon cancer (2.4 +/- 0.35%) as well as other malignant tumors (6.8 +/- 0.6%) (p less than 0.01) was shown among the relatives of the first degree of relation. The values of segregation rates obtained for clinical forms of colon cancer were lower than theoretically expected for simple monogenic types of inheritance. The analysis of incomplete penetration of genotypes showed that, though formally the inheritance of colon cancer and its clinico-anatomical forms may be described by quasi-dominant types of inheritance, the penetration values are very low: from 4.3 to 13.3% for homozygotes and from 2.1 to 6.6% for heterozygotes. It shows that the supposition about the monogenic types of the colon cancer inheritance is doubtful and suggests that the colon cancer is to be regarded on the basis of the multifactorial model.     

Comparative root anatomy of papilionoid Legumes

The aims of the present study were (i) to compare the anatomical structures of roots from legume species belonging to the tribes Aeschynomeneae, Fabeae (syn. Vicieae), and Trifolieae (Papilionoideae); (ii) to characterize those developmental stages of roots that are most useful for comparative studies; (iii) to characterize root developmental patterns during their growth from primary to adult structures; and (iv) to identify developmental patterns that are typical for particular tribes within this plant group. To this end, serial transverse cuts of the main roots of 20 species belonging to the above-mentioned tribes were made from the root tip to the root collar. Vessel density, vessel diameter, secondary cortex area, and xylem area were quantified using appropriate software. Based on root ontogeny, four stages giving evidence for important developmental events were chosen based on which a comparison of the species-specific structures became possible. The first stage corresponds to the primary structure of a root. The second stage corresponds to the onset of cambium and phellogen division, when their first division products become differentiated. The third and fourth stages correspond to adult roots with a well-developed secondary structure. These developmental stages that allowed between-species comparison turned out to be useful characterising those patterns that best typify a particular tribe within the subfamily. Vessel density, vessel diameter, and the xylem transverse area were found to differ significantly between the tribes examined. Some of the analyzed morphological variables had a tribe-specific consistency, so that, together with other characteristics, they should be included in approaches to clarify systematic problems in the legume family.     

Giant noctule bats face conflicting constraints between roosting and foraging in a fragmented and heterogeneous landscape

Noting that some ground-dwelling passerine birds have remarkably long claws, reflected in such names as longclaw (Motacillidae) and longspur (Emberizidae), this comparative study assessed whether these features might aid movement over grassy ground vegetation. Using measurements of museum specimens, we found that, corrected for body size, larks (Alaudidae) living in grassy habitats ( n =31) had significantly longer toes and claws and hence larger footspans than species dwelling on bare substrates ( n =25). Using phylogenetically corrected contrasts, the claw result remained strongly significant, and the footspan result marginally significant, while there was no significant difference between the toes of the two groups. Among 15 matched pairs of other ground-dwelling passerines, where one member of the pair inhabits vegetated ground and the other inhabits bare ground, the former had significantly longer toes and claws and hence larger footspans. We conclude that ground-dwelling passerines living on vegetated, typically grassy ground, have larger feet, due to both longer toes and claws. This probably facilitates movement over uneven and unstable vegetation.     

Plasma cholinesterase studies on south-eastern Bantu of Mozambique.

Blood samples from four Bantu tribes in South-East Mozambique have been phenotyped for the plasma cholinesterase variants of the E1 locus. A control roup of 153 Portuguese residents in Mozambique have also been phenotyped. The frequencies of both the E1a and E1f genes in the Portuguese population is very similar to those in other Caucasian populations. The absence of the E1a gene in the four Bantu tribes provides more evidence of the rarity of this gene in Negroid populations. There is an increased frequency of E1f gene in all tribes as compared with previous surveys. The Ronga and Bitonga tribes have similar E1f frequencies of 0.047 and 0.048, respectively. The Shangana has an E1f frequency of 0.060, and the corresponding figure for the Chopi tribe is 0.089. The latter is the highest recorded frequency for this gene. The results give some support to the doubts concerning the affiliation of the Chopi tribe.     

THE COEVOLUTION OF HUMAN HANDS AND FEET

Human hands and feet have longer, more robust first digits, and shorter lateral digits compared to African apes. These similarities are often assumed to be independently evolved adaptations for manipulative activities and bipedalism, respectively. However, hands and feet are serially homologous structures that share virtually identical developmental blueprints, raising the possibility that digital proportions coevolved in human hands and feet because of underlying developmental linkages that increase phenotypic covariation between them. Here we show that phenotypic covariation between serially homologous fingers and toes in Homo and Pan is not only higher than expected, it also causes these digits to evolve along highly parallel trajectories under episodes of simulated directional selection, even when selection pressures push their means in divergent directions. Further, our estimates of the selection pressures required to produce human‐like fingers and toes from an African ape‐like ancestor indicate that selection on the toes was substantially stronger, and likely led to parallel phenotypic changes in the hands. Our data support the hypothesis that human hands and feet coevolved, and suggest that the evolution of long robust big toes and short lateral toes for bipedalism led to changes in hominin fingers that may have facilitated the emergence of stone tool technology.     

内蒙古西部地区蒙古族、汉族4项人类群体遗传学特征的研究

从1998~2001年调查了内蒙古自治区鄂尔多斯市、锡林郭勒盟、巴彦淖尔盟的蒙古族、汉族6个群体的拇指类型、环食指长、指甲类型、足趾长等4项人类群体遗传学指标,共获有效资料2760例。研究表明：（1）6个群体的直型拇指出现率均在60％以上,且均无性别间明显差异;（2）6个群体环指长率均远高于食指长率,有4个群体存在性别间显著差异;（3）各群体均表现出长型指甲最多、方型次之、扁型最少;（4）6个群体均多为拇趾长型,且各群体均无性别间显著差异;（5）4项指标之间无明显相关关系。 Abstract:From 1998 to 2001,a sample of 2760 Mongol and Han individuals was investigated in 3 areas (Eerduosi city,Xilinguole and Bayannaoer leagues) from Inner Mongolia.Each individual was studied on 4 genetic characters (thumb type,palmar digital formular,fingernail type and plantar digital formular).The result is as follows:(1) The frequencies of the straight thumb were over 60%,and there were no significant sexual differences in all of 6 groups.(2) The frequencies of the ring-finger-longer were much higher in 6 groups,and there were significant sexual differences in 4 groups.(3) The frequencies of the long-shaped fingernail were the highest in all groups,the squat-shaped were the lowest.(4) The big toes were longer than the second toes in most people of 6 groups,but without significant sexual differences in each groups.(5) There were no significant correlations between 4 characters.     

Homo sapiens: From man to demigod. By Bernhard Rensch. ix + 228 pp., figures,bibliography, index. Columbia University Press,New York. 1972. $10.00 (cloth)

The Zuni Indians of west-central New Mexico have been relatively isolated since their foundation by an amalgamation of individuals from different southwestern cultural areas during the Regressive Pueblo period (c.1200–1350 A.D. ). Genetic analysis revealed a high frequency of blood type B in both young (0.06) and old (0.05) Zuni, but at 14 other blood group and serum protein loci, allelic frequencies including A (0.011) and Rh negative (0.001) were generally similar to those of other relatively unmixed southwestern Indian tribes. Consideration of Zuni history and demography since Spanish contact in 1540, together with genetic analyses, suggest that the high B frequency probably derives from intermixture with a small number of B, Rh positive non-Indians in the early post contact period. Genetic differentiation among four southwestern tribes, Zuni, Pima, Papago and Maricopa, was summarized by kinship analysis. Approximately 70% of the inter-tribal genetic variation could be explained by the geographic distances among these groups showing that isolation by distance has been the most important factor in determining the pattern of regional genetic differentiation.     

Relative lengths of fingers and toes in human males and females

Digital scans of the hands and feet were obtained from 62 heterosexual females and 60 heterosexual males. Scans only of the hands were obtained from 29 homosexual females and 35 homosexual males. The lengths of the individual fingers and toes were estimated from those images by two experienced judges, and length ratios were constructed for all possible pairs of fingers (or toes) on each hand (or foot). Thumbs were not measured, but the great toe was measured and used to construct length ratios. Past research had concentrated on the relative lengths of the index and ring fingers (the 2D:4D ratio). This ratio is close to 1.0 in females and smaller than 1.0 in males. Here 2D:4D did exhibit the largest sex difference, for both hands, followed by 2D:5D and 3D:4D. The sex differences were larger for the right hand than for the left. For both homosexual females and homosexual males, nearly all of the length ratios for fingers were intermediate to those for heterosexual females and heterosexual males; that is, the ratios of homosexual females were masculinized and those of homosexual males were hypomasculinized, but few of these differences were significant. Because many toes were substantially arched, acceptable estimates of length often could not be obtained from the two-dimensional scans, meaning that conclusions about toes are much less certain than those for fingers. Nevertheless, the length ratios were generally larger for toes than for fingers, and the sex differences were generally smaller for toes.     

Gc and transferrin isoelectrofocusing subtypes among Brazilian Indians

A total of 397 persons living in six villages of three Brazilian Indian tribes were studied in relation to the Gc subtypes. The corresponding gene frequencies are more similar between the Gorotire and Caingang than between the Gorotire and the Krahó, despite the considerable geographical distance that separates the villages of these two first tribes and their lignuistic differentiation. An uncommon variant pattern (1C7) was observed in eight Gorotire Indians; it had been described for the first time in a Tibetan sample, furnishing additional evidence on the Asiatic origin of these Indians. The distinct Gc subtype frequencies observed in our main ethnic groups provide an important new tool for anthropological analyses. Tf subtypes were studied among the Caingang only. The frequencies of Tf^C1 and Tf^C2 are similar to those obtained by other researchers in Hessen, Germany.     

Genetic relationships between Amerindian populations of Argentina

A total of 495 individuals from five different Argentinian tribes was examined for variation in 23 blood group and protein genetic systems, and the results were integrated with previous data on some of these systems. These tribes generally present RH * R1, PGM1 * 1, and ACP * A frequencies lower and RH * R2, ESD * 1, and GLO * 1 prevalences higher than those observed in other South American Indian groups. Earlier studies with mitochondrial DNA showed that haplogroup A was present in low frequencies in these tribes, but haplogroup B showed a high prevalence among the Mataco. Average heterozygosities are very similar in the five tribes, while estimates of non-Indian ancestry are generally low. Both the blood group and protein, as well as the mtDNA data sets, divide the five tribes into two groups, and the relationships obtained with the blood group and protein systems are exactly those expected on the basis of geography and language. However, the topology obtained with the mtDNA results was different, possibly due to sampling effects or diverse patterns of exchange between the groups related to sex.     

Effects of the ecological conditions on morphological variations of the green toad, Bufo viridis, in Turkey

Ten populations of the green toad, Bufo viridis, from three areas having different climatic regimes were compared. Multivariate analyses of morphological characteristics revealed three distinct populations of green toads: the first group inhabiting the lowland and humid localities was characterized by a small body size, the second group occurred at higher altitudes and in desert areas had a significantly larger body size, while the third group from the Mediterranean localities was characterized by a large tympanum, a longer tarsus and short first toes. Interestingly, the specimens from Giresun Island were clustered with the second group with a similar pattern of body size. Differences in the morphological characteristics among populations were positively associated with ecological conditions, and not with geographic distance. Some characteristics previously used for taxonomic purposes in B. viridis were shown to be associated with local climatic conditions.     

Factors influencing the survival of patients with cancer of the prostate.

During the period 1969 through 1973, 777 new cases of cancer of the prostate in northern Alberta men were registered with the Alberta Cancer Registry. The overall survival rate after 5 years was 41.2%. As expected, the rates were higher for those aged less than 65 years than for those who were older at the time of diagnosis and higher for those without metastases than for those with metastases at that time. Urban residents had a higher survival rate than rural residents (45.3% v. 38.0%), and the survival ratio of the former, 1.31, was significant. Information on occupation, smoking and the interval between appearance of the first symptom and diagnosis was not always available. However, the differentials observed suggest that those in a professional occupation and nonsmokers live longer after the diagnosis of cancer of the prostate but that the interval before diagnosis does not affect the length of survival.