Biology of the people of Sikkim, India. 2. Colour blindness, ear lobe attachment, mid-phalangeal hair and behavioural traits

14 population groups of Sikkim (India)--Lepchas (2), Bhutias (2), Sherpas, Tamangs, Gurungs, Mangars, Rais, Limboos/Subbas, Pradhans (Newars), Brahmans, Chhetris, Scheduled Castes--have been studied in regard of the intra- and intergroup variability of colour blindness, ear lobe attachment, mid-phalangeal hair and behavioural traits (tongue folding, hand clapsing, arm folding, leg folding, handedness). Some of these variables show a considerable distribution heterogeneity, which is discussed considering history and marriage patterns of these populations. As most of them are highly endogamous one can assume that this heterogeneity is caused by locally acting factors such as drift and/or founder effects, which could be preserved due to as good as lacking gene flow among the populations under study. Beyond that the Sikkim data are compared briefly with those reported for other Indian and Asiatic populations.

Genetic markers and malaria. Observations in Gujarat, India

189 healthy controls and 175 patients suffering from malaria vivax have been investigated with regard to associations between this disease and 22 genetic polymorphisms of the blood (ABO, MN, Ss, Rh, Kell, P, Lutheran, Kidd, Duffy, Diego, Xg; ABH-Secretor; Hp, Gc, Gm, Km; aP, AK, PGM1, 6-PGD, EsD; Hb variants) Significant associations could be demonstrated only for P and Hp systems, though in accordance with other investigations it cannot be excluded that the ABO system plays also a role in this connection.

Genetic studies in four tribal populations of the Surat District, Gujarat (India)

Four tribal populations (Chaudhuri, Vasava, Kotwalia and Gamit) of the Surat District in Gujarat (India) have been investigated for the distribution of 22 polymorphic systems of the blood. The main results of this study are as follows: The allele frequencies show considerable heterogeneity among these populations. From the genetic structure analysis it is seen that only a small fraction of the total gene diversity accounts for genetic differences among them, and the major portion of it is due to genetic variation within them. Analysis of genetic distance according to Nei (1972) reveals that the Vasava and Kotwalia show a rather close genetic relationship, while the Chaudhuri and Gamit differ from both the Vasava and Kotwalia.