Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2brh9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T08:47:56.874Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Natural selection and colour blindness: fresh data on Indian castes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 April 2009

K. C. Malhotra
K. C. Malhotra
Affiliation:
Anthropometry and Human Genetics Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, 203 B. T. Road, Calcutta 700 035, India
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Incidence of colourblindness among 3325 males belonging to 21 endogamous Dhangar castes (shepherds) of Maharashtra, India, has been reported. Of the 21 castes studied 5 lacked the gene for colourblindness, while in other groups it varied from 1% to 55%, with a series average of 2·65%. The low incidence of observed colourblindness has been discussed in the light of the nomadic way of the life of some of the Dhangar castes. The results have been compared with other nomadic populations of Maharashtra. The results, in general, are compatible with the Post and Pickford's hypothesis of differential selection for colourblindness.

Type
Short Papers
Information
Genetics Research , Volume 31 , Issue 2 , April 1978 , pp. 203 - 207
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1978

References

REFERENCES

Das, S. R., Malhotra, K. C., Mukherjee, B. N. & Das, S. K. (1974). Genetic variants of lactate dehydrogenase in Dhangars of Maharashtra. Japanese Journal of Human Genetics 18. 305–309.Google Scholar
Ishihara, S. (1960). The Series of Plates Designed as a Test for Colour Blindness, 3rd ed., 24 plates. Tokyo: Kannehara Shuppan.Google Scholar
Malhotra, K. C. (1976). Inbreeding among 22 Dhangar castes of Maharashtra: A preliminary report. Indian Statistical Institute, Technical Report, Anthrop/4/1976.Google Scholar
Malhotra, K. C. (1977). Population biology of the Dhangars of Maharashtra. I. Finger dermatoglyphic variation. Proceedings Harold Cummins Memorial Symposium, Alabama.Google Scholar
Malhotra, K. C., Mutalik, G. S., Bhanu, B. V., Kate, S. L. & Fulmali, P. M. (1974). Incidence of colourblindness among four endogamous nomadic groups: An example of natural selection. Heredity 32. 145–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Malhotra, K. C., Das, S. K., Mukherjee, B. N., Majumdar, P. P., Undevia, J. V., Bhanu, B. V. & Yee, S. (1976). Distribution of blood groups among 21 Dhangar castes of Maharashtra. Indian Statistical Institute, Technical Report, Anthrop/10/1976.Google Scholar
Mukherjee, B. N., Das, S. K. & Malhotra, K. C. (1976). Serum protein and enzyme polymorphism in the Dhangars of Maharashtra. Indian Journal of Medical Research 64. 1240–4.Google ScholarPubMed
Pickford, R. W. (1963). Natural selection and colourblindness. Eugenics Review 55, 97–101.Google Scholar
Post, R. H. (1962). Population differences in red and green colour vision deficiency: Review and a query on selection relaxation. Eugenics Quarterly 9. 131–146.CrossRefGoogle Scholar