A collation of marker gene and dermatoglyphic diversity at various levels of population differentiation

The use of dermatoglyphic traits to describe interpopulational diversity among human populations at various levels of differentiation is compared with similar analysis of gene frequency data by means of nonparametric methods employing distance matrices and dendrograms, and by a partition of total variability into its between and within population components. Congruence of dermatoglyphics and gene markers appears to vary with level of population differentiation — the association remains insignificant until racial level of differentiation is considered. Different pitfalls of the data used are mentioned. The interpretation of these findings is discussed by comparison with other non-human studies.     

Study on some genetic traits of Tibetans at Chandragiri, District Ganjam, Orissa

The incidence of ABH secretion, dry cerumen, ear-lobe attachment, hand clasping, arm-folding, and digital hair, occipital hair whorl and relative length of first and second toes is reported for Tibetan refugees. In those traits for which comparative data are available, they resemble Mongoloid rather than Caucasoid populations.     

Genes and people in the caspian littoral: A population genetic study in northern Iran

Data for the distribution of alleles controlling two blood group systems and secretor status, for hemoglobin types, five serum protein groups and 15 red cell enzyme systems has been obtained. Eleven of the systems showed polymorphic variation and these systems have been used to calculate genetic distances using Morton's Kinship measure. No systematic relationship between genetic distance and geographic location of linguistic affiliation is apparent. There is, however, an apparent cline of decreasing frequency of PGD^c from east to west and also significant differences in the frequency of G6PD deficiency corresponding to variation in the ecology of the region. Genetic distance comparisons with other selected populations reveal that the Turkic and Turkoman speaking peoples in the Caspian area cluster with the Kurds, Greeks and Iranis. The Persian speakers are genetically remote from these populations; they are, however, close to the Parsis who migrated from Iran to India at the end of the Seventh Century A.D. Several unusual genetic variants were detected, including a novel MDH pheno-type, a superoxide dismutase phenotype identical with the Scandinavian type, and rare forms of LDH, PGM locus 2, ceruloplasmin, diaphorase, peptidases and PHI.     

A small-scale survey on the status of intestinal parasite infections in rural villages in Nepal

The status of intestinal parasite infections was investigated in two rural villages (Chitrasar, Jerona) in Chitwan District, Nepal in 1999. Stool examination was performed with a total of 300 specimens from schoolchildren by formalin-ether sedimentation technique. The prevalence rate of intestinal parasite infections in the surveyed areas was 44.0%. The prevalence rate in Jerona was slightly higher than that in Chitrasar. The prevalence rate of intestinal parasite infections in female was slightly higher than that in male without statistically significant difference. Entamoeba coli was the most commonly found protozoan parasite (21.0%) followed by Giardia lamblia (13.7%) and others (5.3%). Hookworm was the most prevalent intestinal helminth (13.0%) followed by Trichuris trichiura (3.0%) and others (5.0%). Forty-three specimens (14.3%) showed mixed infections. It is necessary to implement large-scale treatment with anthelminthics, health education and sanitary improvement for intestinal parasite control in the surveyed areas.     

A study of dermatoglyphics among the groups of Kondhs of Orissa

The paper reports finger dermatoglyphics of three groups of Kondhs namely Kutia, Dongoria and Kuvi, tribes of Orissa, India. The analysis of bilateral finger prints of 663 unrelated males and females includes both qualitative and quantitative characters. Marked bisexual and inter-group differences for several characters have been observed. But bimanual differences have not been observed in finger patterns. All the three groups are characterized by a high frequency of loops. The whorl-loop ratio indicates the low incidence of whorls particularly among the Kuvi males and females and that of inter-group difference have been observed between Dongoria females and Kuvi females. The three groups show very close affinity in the present study. The three groups of Kondhs show similar trend when compared with the available data in India and show very close affinity.     

Ethnic communities in Israel: The genetic blood markers of the Moroccan Jews

One hundred and ninety-six Moroccan Jews now settled in Israel were typed for 7 blood groups, 12 red cell enzymes and 2 plasma protein systems. Their blood group picture is in agreement with results previously obtained on different samples of Moroccan Jews: rather high B in ABO, somewhat elevated frequencies of cDE and cDe in Rh and K in Kell. Differences in various blood markers exist between them and other North African Jewish communities. This fact, together with data on disease distribution and HLA frequencies, supports our assumption that Jews in the North African diaspora lived as small secluded isolates even within the same geographical zones. Comparisons with meager data on the neighboring non-Jewish populations do not disclose any resemblance to either Arab or Berber inhabitants of Morocco.     

A genetic survey in the Bhil tribe of Madhya Pradesh,Central India

Examination of blood groups, plasma proteins and red cell enzyme types (23 loci), in a sample of 145 Bhils, a tribal group of Madhya Pradesh, Central India, demonstrates their genetic uniqueness. They differ in a number of systems from the nearby nontribal groups both of Hindus and Muslims. The results suggest that the Bhil frequencies include vestiges of the ancestral genepool of a more widespread aboriginal population whose influence is detectable in the gene frequencies of some other populations in India.     

Mycotoxins in developing countries: A case study of maize in Nepal

Maize (Zea mays) is an important food crop in the foothills of the Nepal Himalaya Mountains. Surveys have found that maize in Nepal is contaminated withFusarium species, mainlyF. verticillioides andF. proliferatum, which produce fumonisins, andF. graminearum, which produces trichothecenes, mainly nivalenol and 4-deoxynivalenol. Maize from smallholder farms and markets is often contaminated with fumonisins and trichothecenes above 1000 ng/g, a level of concern for human health. These mycotoxins were not eliminated by traditional fermentation for producing maize beer, but Nepalese women were able to detoxify contaminated maize by hand-sorting visibly disease kernels. An integrated approach to reduce mycotoxins risks in maize in Nepal and other developing countries should include plant breeding to produce ear rot resistant cultivars, along with education in mycotoxins risks and in agricultural and grain storage practices to reduce mycotoxin contamination. Presented at the EU-USA Bilateral Workshop on Toxigenic Fungi & Mycotoxins, New Orleans, USA, July 5–7, 2005     

Ethnic communities in Israel: The genetic blood markers of the Babylonian Jews

One hundred eighty-eight Jewish individuals who either they or whose both parents were born in Iraq were typed for 7 blood groups (ABO, MNS, Rh, Kell, Duffy, P and Kidd), 12 red cell enzyme systems and 2 serum proteins. Iraqi Jews are characterized by a high frequency of A (in ABO), N (in MNS), low cde (Rh) and low Hp-1. Several rare electrophoretic variants were encountered: PGM₁ 6-1, PHI 3-1 and PHI 2-1, and an unidentified AK phenotype. No evidence of Negroid admixture was found in their gene pool. Comparisons with results previously obtained in Iraqi Jews show general similarities in frequencies while comparisons with neighboring non-Jewish populations suggest divergence in most systems investigated. The difficulties of assessing relationships on the basis of a few selected differences and the need for careful interpretations of similarities are emphasized.     

Impacts of Community-based Conservation on Local Communities in the Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal

Approaches to the management of protected areas that involve the participation of local communities are now being widely promoted. However, the impacts of such community-based conservation initiatives on local communities remain poorly defined. This research examines the socio-economic impacts of community-based conservation within the Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA), Nepal, through semi-structured interviews and a questionnaire survey with local residents, situated both within and outside the protected area. Results indicate that local communities have received a number of benefits from conservation, including improvements in access to forest resources, improved basic infrastructure such as drinking water, trails and bridges, and improvements in health, sanitation and social services. However, relatively few people (14.9%) within ACA receive direct financial income from tourism. Local communities also experience a number of costs of being involved in conservation, the most significant of which is increased crop damage by wildlife. Eighty-four percent of respondents within ACA have experienced problems of crop damage, accounting for 6% (rice) to 23% (maize) of total production. Depredation of livestock by wildlife is also experienced; mean losses per household being the equivalent of ￡3.9 (Rs. 479.70) each year. However, 66% of respondents within ACA reported that they had never experienced this problem. These results indicate that the socio-economic benefits of community-based approaches to conservation can outweigh the costs, even though the latter are significant. However, a participatory approach to management of problematic animal species will need to be developed within ACA, if conflicts between local communities and protected area management are to be avoided in future.     

Human biology in Mexico. II. A comparison of blood group, serum and red cell enzyme frequencies, and genetic distances of the Indian populations of Mexico

Three hundred and ninety-five individuals from two populations from the State of Tlaxcala, Mexico, were studied in relation to the ABO, Rh, MNS, P, Kell, Lewis, Diego, Kidd, Duffy, Haptoglobin, Transferrin, Group specific component, Albumin, Acid Phosphatase and Phosphoglucomutase systems. One of the populations (San Pablo del Monte) is Indian, while the other (City of Tlaxcala) is Mestizo. The alleles which show variation in the Mestizo population are intermediate between the Spanish and the Indian gene frequencies. Three different genetic distance measures suggest that the Mestizo population is a triracial hybrid, while the Indian population is closely related to its two most proximal geographic neighbors, Vera Cruz and Puebla.     

Blood genetic markers in the Chinese of two eastern provinces

A total of 205 Han Chinese from two eastern provinces (155 from Fujien and 50 from Hopeh) were tested for the distribution of six blood groups--A1A2BO, MN, Rhesus (CcDEe), Lewisa, Kell (Kk) and Fya--four serum proteins--albumin and haptoglobin types; transferrin and group-specific component subtypes--haemoglobin, and twelve red cell enzyme systems--glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, lactate and malate dehydrogenases; acid phosphatase, esterate-D, glyoxalase I, adenylate kinase, glucose-phosphate isomerase, phosphoglucomutase (locus 2), and superoxide dismutase types; and phosphoglucomutase (locus 1) subtypes. The frequencies of blood groups were more or less within the reported frequencies in the Chinese. However the frequency of le was much lower in the present series. The Chinese are characterized by low p1, Ro, k, le, and a high Fya in general. P2 was lacking in the Chinese. There were some differences in the blood group frequencies in the two provinces. The frequencies of Hp alleles; Tf and Gc subtypes show characteristic mongoloid features with high Hp1, TfD, and GcIF. The frequency of TFC2 was higher in the Fujien province than that in Hopeh. At the hemoglobin locus only one Hb AD was detected, while the frequency of the beta-thalassemia trait was 0.03. No red cell G6PD deficiency or variant was detected. The distribution of red cell enzymes showed Mongoloid characteristics with low PGDC, AK2, ESD1, GLO1, and higher pa. PGM1 subtypes also had Mongoloid characteristics with lower PGM2+ and higher PGM2-. The phenotypic distribution of all the fifteen polymorphic loci was at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in both the Chinese populations.     

Population structure and genetic heterogeneity in the Upper Markham Valley of New Guinea.

An analysis is presented of the standardized Wahlund's variances (f) in gene frequencies of the ABO, Rh and MNS blood group systems among 19 villages of the Atsera isolate of the upper Markham Valley, Papua New Guinea. In the past, there has been some disagreement over the relative importance of population structure and natural selection in the determination of these variances. The Lewontin-Krakauer test is presented as a means of resolving this disagreement. According to this test, selectively neutral variation in gene frequencies should generate essentially homogeneous values of f for all loci, a homogeneity which can be tested by comparing the value of (formula: see text) to a theoretical (formula: see text) expected when variations in (formula: see text) are due solely to sampling error. The observed value of (formula: see text) for the Atsera isolate is 2.9 x 10(-5), which is not significantly different from the expected values that range from 1.23 x 10(-5) to 2.46 x 10(-5) depending on the constant used in calculating (formula: see text). Therefore it appears that nonselective aspects of population structure such as genetic drift and intervillage migration are responsible for the recorded genetic variation in this isolate.     

A family study of dermatoglyphic traits in India: segregation analysis of accessory palmar triradii and the atd angle

Accessory triradii and the atd angle were examined via complex segregation analysis in order to evaluate possible genetic effects on these dermatoglyphic traits, measured in an endogamous Brahmin caste of peninsular India. The phenotypes considered included: presence of accessory palmar triradii a' and d', associated with the interdigital areas II and IV, respectively; presence of an accessory axial triradius tt' associated with the proximal margin of the palm; and an arctanh-transformation of the atd angle measurement. For all accessory triradii considered in the present investigation familial resemblance was evident. The most parsimonious model which could account for the observed resemblance was a multifactorial model that includes polygenic effects as well as transmissible environmental effects that are inherited in the same pattern as polygenes. Evidence of familial resemblance was also found for the arctanh-transformed atd angle, which could be attributed, initially, to both a major effect and a multifactorial component. Tests of transmission of a putative major gene were performed which yielded results consistent with Mendelian transmission, although an alternative test of no transmission of the major effect also fit the data. In light of these contrasting results we are precluded from accepting with confidence the notion of a major gene influence on the atd angle. We have concluded that the accessory triradii a', d', and tt', and the atd angle are influenced by multifactorial effects, including additive polygenes and possible environmental factors, such as intrauterine effects.     

A detailed study of the Beddington-DeAngelis predator-prey model

The present investigation accounts for the influence of intra-specific competition among predators in the original Beddington-DeAngelis predator-prey model. We offer a detailed mathematical analysis of the model to describe some of the significant results that may be expected to arise from the interplay of deterministic and stochastic biological phenomena and processes. In particular, stability (local and global) and bifurcation (Saddle-node, Transcritical, Hopf-Andronov, Bogdanov-Takens) analysis of this model are conducted. Corresponding results from previous well known predator-prey models are compared with the current findings. Nevertheless, we also allow this model in stochastic environment with the influences of both, uncorrelated “white” noise and correlated “coloured” noise. This showing that competition among the predator population is beneficial for a number of predator-prey models by keeping them stable around its positive interior equilibrium (i.e. when both populations co-exist), under environmental stochasticity. Comparisons of these findings with the results of some earlier related investigations allow the general conclusion that predator intra-species competition benefits the predator-prey system under both deterministic and stochastic environments. Finally, an extended discussion of the ecological implications of the analytical and numerical results concludes the paper.     

A multivariate approach to fingerprint variation in Papua New Guinea: Perspectives on the evolutionary stability of dermatoglyphic markers

In the Markham Valley of Papua New Guinea, multivariate graphical displays of serological, anthropometric, and dermatoglyphic population structures are compared pursuant to the hypothesis that fingerprints have a slower velocity of evolutionary change and, therefore, are preferable biological markers for prehistorical reconstructions. Samples from nine villages, which represent three geographical and linguistic populations, are plotted in two dimensions using appropriate multivariate techniques for maximally portraying between sample variability. Both the serological and morphometric displays are found lacking in close clusters, which demonstrates a lack of congruence with the shared languages and, presumably, the ethnohistorical origins of the three populations. These discrepancies between biology and prehistory appear to reflect recent environmental and stochastic perturbations. On the other hand, fingerprint displays conform closely to language affiliations, relatively undisturbed by environmental variation and genetic drift. The relative congruence between ethnohistorical affiliation and fingerprint diversity is further corroborated by comparing the three measures of population structure with geographical distances, using partial rank correlations. In terms of explained variance, the level of association with fingerprints is more than twice than with anthropometry, and 13 times greater than with serology. Whereas metric and serological data provide distorted portrayals of known biohistorical relationships among the study populations, fingerprint data mirror these relationships. The theoretical foundations and consequences of this observation are discussed with respect to the broader question of polygenic versus monogenic biological markers.     

Failure of linguistic relationships to predict genetic distances between the Waiãpi and other tribes of lower Amazonia

Data on blood group, serum protein, erythrocyte enzyme, and histocompatibility antigen (HLA) traits are presented for the Waiãpi, a Tupispeaking tribe of the Brazilian and French Guianas. Intra- and intertribal comparisons have been made between these data, and previously published data from French Guiana, from another Tupi tribe and from other tribes of neighboring areas, and from the continent as a whole. For this purpose, we have modified the usual measure of genetic distance to obtain a value which is independent of the number of loci being considered. The intertribal genetic distances do not correlate with linguistic affinity. Social differences, which may have affected the rate of drift from the continental mean, correlate better with genetic distances.     

Restriction and persistence of polymorphisms of HLA and other blood genetic traits in the Parakanã Indians of Brazil

Results concerning HLA types and 22 other blood genetic systems are reported for the Parakanã Indians of northern Brazil, a tribe that is notable for the light color and pilosity of some of its members. No clear evidence of Caucasoid admixture was found, but the Parkanã show unusual frequencies in the EsD¹, PGM¹₁, Gc², Cp^B, Fy^a, Di^a, and L^M genetic markers. In addition, the very rare Rh allele r^y is present, as well as what seems to be a new PGM₂ variant. There is very limited heterogeneity in the HLA system. All these distinctive features may have arisen through a combination of founder effects and genetic drift. However, low F_is values, as well as higher mean ages in heterozygous as compared to homozygous persons, suggest that an heterotic effect is counteracting these dispersive forces.     

A comparative study of the effect of refining on charge of various pulps

This work studied the influence of refining on various pulp properties such as freeness, specific surface area, specific volume, water retention value, surface charge, total charge and tensile index of five different pulps. At a freeness level the wheat straw pulp exhibited higher surface charge and total charge compared to other pulps. The specific surface area, specific volume and water retention value of the pulps increased with increased refining. The total fibre charge as determined by conductometric titrations was not affected by refining. However, the surface charge as determined by titrations with poly-DADMAC increased with refining. The increases in specific surface area of pulps by refining resulted in a higher fibre surface charge and also better fibre-fibre bonding. The linear regression models developed using experimental data were found to be accurate. The comparison of model predicted data and the experimental data showed an excellent agreement between them.     

纳西族和普米族的红细胞血型分布

调查了云南纳西族和普米族各１０４人的ＡＢＯ、ＮＭＳｓ、Ｒｈ和Ｐ血型系统。结果表明,ＡＢＯ血型系统中,纳西族和普米族有较高的基因频率ｒ,分别为０．６０８２和０．６８８２,且基因频率ｐ＝ｑ,纳西族均为０．１９５９,普米族均为０．１５５９。ＭＮＳｗ系统中两个民族都表现ｍ〉ｎ、ｓ〉ｓ,Ｍｓ〉Ｎｓ、ＭＳ〉ＮＳ,其中纳西族的基因频率在国内报道的相应值中是比较高的,且ＮＳ为零。