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Quantitative dermatoglyphics and population structure in Northwest India
Author(s) -
Reddy B. Mohan,
Chopra Virendra P.,
Karmakar Bibha,
Malhotra Kailash C.,
Mueller Hermann
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
american journal of human biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.559
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1520-6300
pISSN - 1042-0533
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1520-6300(200005/06)12:3<315::aid-ajhb2>3.0.co;2-9
Subject(s) - dermatoglyphics , population , linear discriminant analysis , endogamy , ridge , gene flow , genetic variation , biology , evolutionary biology , demography , genetics , statistics , mathematics , sociology , paleontology
The nature and extent of dermatoglyphic variation in northwest India is examined with the help of 28 quantitative variables—20 finger ridge counts and 8 palmar pattern ridge counts—among 12 endogamous populations. These populations represent the entire spectrum of ethnic and socioeconomic variation of the region and are presently distributed in three different states—Rajasthan, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh. Of a total sample of 1,160 adult males, about 100 from each group were considered. Multiple discriminant analysis and R‐matrix analysis were used to derive population relationships and patterns of external gene flow, respectively. Published data on genetic markers were reanalyzed to make the comparative evaluation of the patterns with reference to dermatoglyphs. Both the discriminant analysis and the F ST from R‐matrix analysis suggest highly significant discrimination among the northwestern groups, whether one uses only 20 finger ridge count variables or all 28 variables, including the 8 palmar pattern ridge counts. The 8 palmar variables add very little to the variation explained by the 20 finger ridge count variables. F ST values suggest that the populations of Punjab are most homogeneous and those of Himachal Pradesh most heterogeneous. However, the levels of differentiation are similar for dermatoglyphs and genetic markers. The pattern of external gene flow as inferred through R‐matrix analysis is consistent with the breeding and population structure of the groups, although genetic markers portray a relatively more realistic picture. Overall, the patterns of variation observed in dermatoglyphs and genetic markers are consistent with different dimensions of population structure; whereas dermatoglyphs conform more to the geographic pattern and less to ethnic resemblance, the reverse is true in the case of genetic markers. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 12:315–326, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.