Family resemblance for cranio-facial measurements in Velanti Brahmins from Andhra Pradesh, India

Maximum likelihood estimates of familial correlations are presented for 12 cranio-facial measurements taken on 399 nuclear families from Southern India. Marital resemblance is significantly different from zero for head circumference, head breadth, minimum frontal breadth, bizygomatic breadth, total facial height, and nasal height, but not for bigonial breadth, nose breadth, nose depth, or ear dimensions. All other familial correlations are significantly greater than zero except for the father-daughter correlation for nasal depth. Path analysis with a TAU transmission model with sex effects reveals that family resemblance for head circumference, head length, bigonial breadth, total facial height, and nasal height, but not for bigonial breadth, nose breadth, nose depth, or ear dimensions. All other familial correlations are significantly greater than zero except for the father-daughter correlation for nasal depth. Path analysis with a TAU transmission model with sex effects breadth, and sex effects in transmission were found for head breadth and nose dimensions. Sex effects in this sample may be due to the fact that different anthropometrists were used for male and female subjects.     

Influence of educational levels of the spouses on consanguinity among three endogamous groups of Andhra Pradesh,South India

The highest values of consanguinity was found among “Kamma” (45.0%), “Ediga” (47.5%) and “Mala” (55.7%) who occupy different strata of Indian caste hierarchy. In the way of searchout the factors influencing consanguineous marriages, the present paper finda the negative relationship between educational levels of the spouses and consanguinity. The educational levels of men has significant effect on the frequency of consanguinious marriages among “Kamma” and “Mala”. However, further analysis deplore significant differences in the mean levels consanguinity between educational groups. It divulge low level of higher education among the populations. Only 12% of men and 1.6% of women have degree level and above education in the total sample.     

Gene differentiation in four subcastes of Brahmins from Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh

Blood group (ABO, MN, Rh, CcDEe) polymorphisms are reported here for 4 strictly endogamous subcastes of Andhra Brahmins. The coefficient of gene differentiation calculated from the gene frequencies is 0.87% demonstrating that only a small fraction of the total gene diversity is attributable to the differences between subcastes. In spite of the strict endogamy for the past 10-14 centuries, 99.13% of gene differentiation exists within the subcastes.     

Genetic differentiation among some endogamous populations of Andhra Pradesh,India

Endogamous populations belonging to Brahmin, Vysya, Mala, and Madiga castes of Andhra Pradesh, South India, were investigated for certain red cell enzyme and serum protein genetic markers. Frequency values were statistically analyzed to assess genetic variation among the populations. Average heterozygosity of ten loci and genetic diversity within and between the populations were calculated by using the methods of Nei. Nei's index was used to calculate genetic distances between the pairs of populations. A dendrogram was drawn adapting the modified unweighted pair group method suggested by Li, which agreed with the history of the populations.     

HLA antigen frequency in the Koya tribe of Andhra Pradesh, India

The frequencies of HLA-A, -B, and -C antigens were studied in a tribal population of Koya from Andhra Pradesh in southern India. No other well-defined tribal population has been studied with which the present results may be compared. However, the HLA profile of Koya showed distinct differences from the general HLA distribution in India in the frequency of a large number of antigens both at the A and B loci. This study indicates the distinctiveness of this tribal population and suggests the potential importance of the study of HLA frequencies in tribal groups of India.     

Anthropometric variation among the reddis of Southern Andhra Pradesh,India

Five select Reddi populations based on 750 males in the age range of 20 to 50 years have been studied for 15 anthropometric measurements and 10 indices. The Pokanati show higher mean value for a majority of the measurements. F-values are significant for all measurements except for bicristal breadth. All indices but nasal index show negligible variation. Mesocephalic heads predominate among Pokanati and dolicocephalic heads among the rest. the cluster analysis and principal coordinate analysis, as diagrammatically represented, show the extent of variation among the five Reddi populations.     

C3 types in some endogamous populations of Andhra Pradesh

The distribution of C3 phenotypes was studied in some endogamous caste groups of Andhra Pradesh, South India. The C3F allele was found to be at a low frequency and comparable to those found in castes of other regions on the Indian subcontinent.     

Acid phosphatase polymorphism in some endogamous populations of Andhra Pradesh

The distribution of acid phosphatase (ACP) phenotypes in six endogamous Brahmin sub-sects and in the Vysya, Mala and Madiga castes of Andhra Pradesh, India, were investigated. The ACP A gene frequency ranged from 0.167 to 0.254. The ACP C allele was observed in three Brahmin sub-sects.     

Esterase D polymorphism in some endogamous populations of Andhra Pradesh

Esterase D polymorphism was investigated in six endogamous Brahmin sub-sects and in the Mala and Madiga castes of Andrah Pradesh. The ESD 2 gene frequency ranged between 0.184 and 0.405. The frequencies obtained did not show variation in the range of ESD 2 gene frequency from the other populations of India.     

Climate sensitivity of crop yields in the former state of Andhra Pradesh,India

Observed meteorological data demonstrates that temperature has increased by 0.74 °C in the last hundred years with the bulk of the warming occurring in the last 50 years. This paper examines the impact of climate change on five major crops in the former state of Andhra Pradesh using district level panel data for the period 1981–2010. Analysis of data shows that crop yields are significantly impacted by climate for rice, tobacco and groundnut. Crops grown in rabi are more susceptible to changes in climate than those in kharif, while drought crops like jowar are found to withstand changes in climate better than others.     

Plant morphometric traits and climate gradients in northern China: a meta-analysis using quadrat and flora data

Background and Aims

The collection of field data on plant traits is time consuming and this makes it difficult to examine changing patterns of traits along large-scale climate gradients. The present study tests whether trait information derived from regional floras can be used in conjunction with pre-existing quadrat data on species presence to derive meaningful relationships between specific morphometric traits and climate.

Methods

Quadrat records were obtained for 867 species in 404 sites from northern China (38–49°N, 82–132°E) together with information on the presence/absence of key traits from floras. Bioclimate parameters for each site were calculated using the BIOME3 model. Principal component analysis and correlation analysis were conducted to determine the most important climate factors. The Akaike Information Criterion was used to select the best relationship between each trait and climate. Canonical correspondence analysis was used to explore the relationships between climate and trait occurrence.

Key Results

The changing abundance of life form, leaf type, phenology, photosynthetic pathway, leaf size and several other morphometric traits are determined by gradients in plant-available moisture (as measured by the ratio of actual to potential evapotranspiration: α), growing-season temperature (as measured by growing degree-days on a 0 ° base: GDD₀) or a combination of these. Different plant functional types (PFTs, as defined by life form, leaf type and phenology) reach maximum abundance in distinct areas of this climate space: for example, evergreen trees occur in the coldest, wettest environments (GDD₀ < 2500 °Cd, α > 0·38), and deciduous scale-leaved trees occur in drier, warmer environments than deciduous broad-leaved trees. Most leaf-level traits show similar relationships with climate independently of PFT: for example, leaf size in all PFTs increases as the environment becomes wetter and cooler. However, some traits (e.g. petiole length) display different relationships with climate in different PFTs.

Conclusions

Based on presence/absence species data and flora-based trait assignments, the present study demonstrates ecologically plausible trends in the occurrence of key plant traits along climate gradients in northern China. Life form, leaf type, phenology, photosynthetic pathway, leaf size and other key traits reflect climate. The success of these analyses opens the possibility of using quadrat- and flora-based trait analyses to examine climate–trait relationships in other regions of the world.     

Glyoxylase I phenotypes in some endogamous populations of Andhra Pradesh, India

The distribution of glyoxylase (GLO) I phenotypes in six endogamous subgroups of Brahmins and in the Mala and Madiga castes of Andhra Pradesh was investigated. The GLO I gene frequencies ranged from 0.2444 to 0.3575. The frequency of 0.3565 found in the Mala is the highest recorded on the Indian subcontinent.     

Konjac mosaic virus Naturally Infecting Three Aroid Plant Species in Andhra Pradesh,India

The genomes of three potyvirus isolates from, respectively, naturally infected Colocasia esculenta, Caladium spp. and Dieffenbachia spp. in Andhra Pradesh, India, were amplified by RT‐PCR using degenerate potyvirus primers. Sequence analysis of RT‐PCR amplicons (1599 nucleotides) showed maximum identity of 97% with the KoMV‐Zan isolate of Konjac mosaic virus (KoMV) from Taiwan (A/C AF332872). The three isolates had a maximum identity of 99.4%. The length of coat protein (CP) gene of three isolates was 846 nucleotides encoding 282 amino acids with a deduced size of 32.25 kDa. The CP gene of the isolates had, respectively, 78.1–95.7% and 88.2–96.4% identity at nucleotide and amino acid levels with KoMV isolates. The CP gene of the three isolates had 93.1–100% (nucleotide) and 98.2–100% (amino acid) identity. The 3′‐UTR of the three isolates showed maximum identity of 91.1–100% identity between and with other KoMV isolates. In the CP amino acid–based phylogenetic analyses, the isolates branched as a distinct cluster along with known KoMV isolates. The three potyvirus isolates associated with mosaic, chlorotic feathery mottling, chlorotic spots, leaf deformation and chlorotic ring spots on three aroids were identified as isolates of KoMV for the first time from Andhra Pradesh, India.     

Repeated selection of morphometric traits in the Soay sheep on St Kilda

1. Long-term studies allow the outcomes of repeated selection events to be monitored. Here, we investigate phenotypic selection in successive winter mortality events in the Soay sheep of St Kilda, Scotland, between 1985 and 1996. Selection of three quantitative morphometric traits, body weight, hindleg length and incisor arcade breadth, was investigated in different sectors of the population.
2. Evidence from fitness differentials of positive directional selection for large size was repeatedly found in lambs and adult females. Selection in the opposing direction was only found in one year in lambs.
3. Selection gradients showed that in most years when significant selection occurred, body weight was the focus of direct selection, whereas selection of hindleg length and incisor breadth was indirect, arising from their correlation with body weight.
4. Selection was strongest in years of low over-winter survival and almost absent in years when survival was high. Intensity of selection was greatest in lambs, emphasizing the differences in selection pressure experienced by different sectors of the population, in addition to the temporal variation in selection pressure due to population density and environmental conditions.
5. Despite repeated positive selection of body weight, no evidence of a change in the population mean was found over the course of the study.     

Red cell enzyme polymorphism in two populations of coastal Andhra Pradesh, South India

Four red cell enzyme polymorphisms: Esterase-D (ESD), Glyoxalase-I (GL01), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) and Phosphoglucomutase (PGM1 and 2), have been studied in two endogamous populations (paidi and Valmiki) of North Coastal Andhra Pradesh, South India. Inter group comparison by chisquare analysis revealed no significant differences among them. An attempt was made to compare with those available for other populations from Andhra Pradesh.     

Hierarchical gene diversity and genetic structure of tribal populations of Andhra Pradesh,India

Gene diversity and genetic structure of tribal populations of Andhra Pradesh, India, have been analyzed under a hierarchical model consisting of five regions of the state, tribes within the regions, and local subpopulations within the tribes. Average gene diversity has been estimated from gene frequency data for 15 polymorphic loci by using nested gene diversity analysis of G_ST. The intralocation coefficient of gene diversity was estimated at 96% of the total, whereas the intertribal, within—and between—regional gene diversities were found to be only 1.90, 0.95, and 1.43%, respectively. The estimate of gene diversity was higher for loci with higher degrees of polymorphism such as ABO, MN, ESD, and PTC and lower for loci with low-level polymorphism and extreme gene frequencies such as Hb, Tf, PHI, 6PGD, and Hp. The nature of selective preference or neutrality at the loci seems to be important in this respect. Tribes of the plains exhibit the least gene diversity, apparently because of higher gene flow among them. The contribution of loci with intermediate gene frequencies in intertribal and regional gene diversity was found to be higher than for loci with extreme allelic frequencies. These results suggest that the most significant component of variation is between individuals within locations and that variation between local subpopulations is negligible in the genetic structure of a population. Forces like selection, gene flow and drift also influence the diversity depending upon the nature of the locus. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Distinct evolutionary patterns of morphometric sperm traits in passerine birds

The striking diversity of sperm shape across the animal kingdom is still poorly understood. Postcopulatory sexual selection is an important factor driving the evolution of sperm size and shape. Interestingly, morphometric sperm traits, such as the length of the head, midpiece and flagellum, exhibit a strong positive phenotypic correlation across species. Here we used recently developed comparative methods to investigate how such phenotypic correlations between morphometric sperm traits may evolve. We compare allometric relationships and evolutionary trajectories of three morphometric sperm traits (length of head, midpiece and flagellum) in passerine birds. We show that these traits exhibit strong phenotypic correlations but that allometry varies across families. In addition, the evolutionary trajectories of the midpiece and flagellum are similar while the trajectory for head length differs. We discuss our findings in the light of three scenarios accounting for correlated trait evolution: (i) genetic correlation; (ii) concerted response to selection acting simultaneously on different traits; and (iii) phenotypic correlation between traits driven by mechanistic constraints owing to selection on sperm performance. Our results suggest that concerted response to selection is the most likely explanation for the phenotypic correlation between morphometric sperm traits.     

Effects of consanguineous marriages on fertility among three endogamous groups of Andhra Pradesh

To assess interrelationships between consanguineous marriage and fertility, 3 caste groups in Andhra Pradesh--the Desuri Kapu, an affluent agricultural caste; the Devanga, an artisan caste in the middle range of the hierarchy; and the Mala, a scheduled caste at the bottom--were selected for field study. Consanguineous marriages are an essential part of the social structure in this area of southern India. A total of 2524 marriages were analyzed, of which 46% were consanguineous. 19% of consanguineous marriages were between uncle and niece, 22% were between 1st cousins, and 5% were between more distant cousins. The Devanga had the highest rate of related marriages (48%), followed by the Desuri Kapu (47%) and the Mala (41%). Higher caste individuals, and wealthier persons within each caste, are more likely to marry relatives so they can avoid splitting their properties through dowry of bride price. The consanguineous unions as a whole were significantly more fertile than nonconsanguineous unions. The mean number of pregnancies, live births, and surviving offspring was 4.85, 4.44, and 2.99, respectively, among consanguineous couples compared with 3.41, 3.32, and 2.87, respectively, among nonconsanguineous couples. Although the number of pregnancies and live births was significantly higher among consanguineous couples in all 3 castes compared with nonconsanguineous couples, the difference in the number of surviving children between consanguineous and nonconsanguineous unions was not significant among the wealthier castes. This suggests that child mortality is higher among the offspring of consanguineous unions, despite their greater wealth.     

Effects of consanguineous marriages on fertility among three endogamous groups of Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

For the present study three castes representing three socioeconomic levels have been selected from Andhra Pradesh, South India. Members of the wealthier castes married consanguineously more frequently than did the members of the lower‐ranking castes. The consanguineous unions among all the castes are found to be more fertile than are nonconsanguineous unions. Indeed, fertility increases with degree of relationship of the spouses. Number of pregnancies and live births are significantly (P = 0.01) higher among consanguineous unions (among all the castes). However, the difference in the number of surviving offspring between consanguineous and nonconsanguineous unions is not significant among the wealthier castes. This suggests that child mortality is higher among the offspring of consanguineous unions in spite of their greater wealth.