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Edward Lear was in the vanguard of cultural assimilation of evolutionary theory. In what amounts to a gestalt relationship, some of his published 'nonsense' figures against, and largely derives its meaning from, innovation in the natural sciences. Certain of his works, some not previously interpreted, are specific in their engagement with evolutionists, including Erasmus and Charles Darwin, Etienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, and Robert Grant. Before and after the appearance of On the Origin of Species (1859), Lear backs one side against another in public debates sparked by evolutionary theory. His implicit engagement with the new biology becomes evident in close attention to the drawings, which are essential components of Lear's innovative hybridization of visual and literary artforms., Huxleyism and Darwinism may be true--but are uncomfortable. --Edward Lear, Diary (24 April 1870) Recent commentators have asserted, but mainly in general terms, that Edward Lear's published 'nonsense' (1) reflects [...]

Contents I Introduction II Ownership and Security A A Brief Introduction to the Equitable Lien B Comparing Equitable Liens and Constructive Trusts III Instrumental Justifications A Trustees B Liquidators and [...], Recent analyses of proprietary remedies have overwhelmingly focused on the constructive trust. This article investigates a less prominent proprietary remedy: the equitable lien. Though the lien is not as intrusive a remedy as the trust, because it insulates a creditor from the consequences of his/her debtor's insolvency, it raises many of the same questions. If a lien is to be justified, there must be some compelling reason for preferring the claims of some general creditors at the expense of others. This article argues that it is very difficult to demonstrate why some creditors are more deserving than others. Excepting a small number of anomalous instances in which the lien can be justified on instrumental grounds, the effect of the equitable lien is to discriminate between creditors whose claims are, in all material respects, indistinguishable.

As pathology departments across the world continue to provide patient care during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, academic institutions must find creative ways to facilitate education. Pathology has traditionally been [...]

Abstract: The polo-like kinases are a family of conserved serine/threonine kinases that play multiple roles in regulation of the cell cycle. Unlike its four other family members, the role of [...]

Pitx3 has been identified as the causative locus in a developmental eye mutation associated with mammalian anterior segment dysgenesis, congenital cataracts, and aphakia. In recent studies of frog eye development we discovered that pitx3 expresses symmetrically in the somites and lateral plate mesoderm and asymmetrically during cardiac and gut looping. We report that disruption of pitx3 activity on one side of an embryo relative to the other, either by over- or underexpression of pitx3, elicits a crooked dorsal axis in embryos that is a consequence of a retarded progression through somitogenesis. Unlike in amniotes, Xenopus somites form as cohorts of presomitic cells that rotate perpendicular to the dorsal axis. Since no vertebral anomalies have been reported in mouse and human Pitx3 mutants, we attempt to distinguish whether the segmentation clock is uniquely affected in frog or if the pitx3 perturbation inhibits the cellular changes that are necessary to rotation of presomitic cells. In Xenopus, pitx3 appears to inhibit the rotation of presomitic cell cohorts and to be necessary to the bilaterally symmetric expression of pitx2 in somites. Key words: Pitx3, mutant, morpholino, somitogenesis, laterality. Pitx3 a ete identifie comme le locus causal d'une mutation developpementale de l'ceil associee a une dysgenesie du segment anterieur chez le mammifere, a la cataracte congenitale et l'aphakie. Lors d'etudes recentes du developpement de l'ceil de la grenouille, nous avons decouvert que pitx3 s'exprime de maniere symetrique dans les somites, les plaques laterales du mesoderme, et de maniere asymetrique lors de la formation de la courbure du cceur et du tube digestif. Nous rapportons que la perturbation de l'activite de pitx3 d'un cote de l'embryon relativement a l'autre, soit par une surexpression ou une sousexpression de pitx3, resulte en un axe dorsal courbe chez les embryons qui est une consequence d'une progression retardee a travers la somitogenese. Contrairement aux amniotes, les somites de Xenopus se presentent en groupes de cellules presomitiques qui tournent de maniere perpendiculaire a l'axe dorsal. Puisqu'aucune anomalie vertebrale n'a ete rapportee chez les mutants de Pitx3 humains ou de souris, nous avons tente de distinguer si l'horloge de segmentation est uniquement affectee chez la grenouille, ou si la perturbation de Pitx3 inhibe les changements cellulaires necessaires a la rotation des cellules presomitiques. Chez Xenopus, pitx3 semble inhiber la rotation des groupes de cellules presomitiques, et etre necessaire a l'expression bilaterale symetrique de pitx2 dans les somites. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles : Pitx3, mutant, morpholino, somitogenese, lateralite., Introduction During a study on the role of pitx3 in Xenopus lens development we noticed several other defects that indicated diverse roles for the gene, particularly during the segmentation of [...]

This study investigated: (1) the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genetic variation in 116 unrelated individuals who originated from the Arabian Peninsula, Iran, or were of Bedouin ethnicity and (2) the genetic structure of Kuwaiti populations and compared it to their neighboring populations. These subpopulations were tested for genetic homogeneity and shown to be heterogeneous. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and mtDNA sequencing analyses of HVRI were used to reconstruct the genetic structure of Kuwait. The results indicated that the combined Kuwaiti population has a high frequency of haplogroup R0 (17%), J (12%), and U (12%) similar to other Arabian populations. In addition, contemporary African gene flow was detected through the presence of sub-haplogroup L (L1 and L2) (2%) and the absence of L3 which is reflective of an earlier migration. Furthermore, the multidimensional scaling (MDS) plot showed that the Kuwaiti population clusters with neighboring populations, including Iran and Saudi Arabia indicating gene flow into Kuwait. According to this study, the Kuwaiti population may be undergoing an expansion in a relatively short period of time, and the maternal genetic structure of Kuwait resembles both Saudi Arabia and Iran., Kuwait is located in the Arabian Peninsula on the coast of the Arabian Gulf (Figure 1). Kuwait is bordered by Iraq on the north and Saudi Arabia on the south. [...]

This study examines the genetic variation in Basque Y chromosome lineages using data on 12 Y-short tandem repeat (STR) loci in a sample of 158 males from four Basque provinces of Spain (Alava, Vizcaya, Guipuzcoa, and Navarre). As reported in previous studies, the Basques are characterized by high frequencies of haplogroup R1b (83%). AMOVA analysis demonstrates genetic homogeneity, with a small but significant amount of genetic structure between provinces (Y-short tandem repeat loci STRs: 1.71%, p = 0.0369). Gene and haplotype diversity levels in the Basque population are on the low end of the European distribution (gene diversity: 0.4268; haplotype diversity: 0.9421). Post-Neolithic contribution to the paternal Basque gene pool was estimated by measuring the proportion of those haplogroups with a Time to Most Recent Common Ancestor (TMRCA) previously dated either prior (R1b, I2a2) or subsequent to (E1b1b, G2a, J2a) the Neolithic. Based on these estimates, the Basque provinces show varying degrees of post-Neolithic contribution in the paternal lineages (10.9% in the combined sample). KEY WORDS: SPAIN, BASQUES, Y-CHROMOSOME, Y-SHORT TANDEM REPEAT LOCI, HAPLOTYPES, POPULATION GENETICS., The debate concerning the genetic composition of the modern European gene pool is currently a matter of degree. Did the Paleolithic inhabitants of Europe contribute to the modern gene pool? [...]

The series of papers in this special issue of Human Biology use an interdisciplinary approach to address regional questions and to integrate disparate Aleutian data into a broad, synthetic effort. [...]

We examine surname distribution, origin, and association with Y-chromosome haplogroups in native communities from the Aleutian archipelago. The underlying hypothesis is that surnames and Y-chromosome haplogroups should be associated because both are paternally inherited markers. We used Lasker's coefficient of relationship through isonymy (Rib) to identify the distribution of 143 surnames in the Aleutian Islands. The geographic distribution of surnames was explored both through frequency distribution and through the use of Mantel tests. Multidimensional scaling, chi-square, and Mantel tests were used to examine the relationship between surname and Y-chromosome markers. Overall, we observed that the distribution of surnames in the Aleutian archipelago is culturally driven rather than being one of paternal inheritance. Surnames follow a gradient from east to west, with high frequencies of Russian surnames found in western Aleut communities and high levels of non-Russian surnames found in eastern Aleut communities. A nonsignificant correlation (r = -0.0132; P = 0.436) was found between distance matrices based on haplogroups of the nonrecombining portion of the Y chromosome and surnames, although an association was found between non-Russian surnames and the predominantly non-Russian haplogroups (R1b, I1a, and I). KEY WORDS: ALEUT POPULATION, SURNAMES, ISONYMY, LASKER'S COEFFICIENT, Y-CHROMOSOME MARKERS, Y-CHROMOSOME HAPLOGROUPS., We examine the distribution and origins of surnames and their association with Y-chromosome haplogroups in native communities from the Aleutian archipelago. As a proxy for genetic markers, surnames have been [...]

We summarize the results of a field and laboratory research program (1999-2006) in the Aleutian Islands on the origins of the inhabitants of the archipelago and the genetic structure of these populations. The Aleuts show closest genetic affinity to the contemporary Siberian Eskimos and Chukchi of Chukotka and differ significantly from the populations of Kamchatka (the terminus of the archipelago) and Alaskan Eskimos. Our findings support the hypothesis that the ancestors of the Aleuts crossed Beringia and expanded westerly into the islands approximately 9,000 years ago. The Monmonier algorithm indicates genetic discontinuity between contemporary Kamchatkan populations and western Aleut populations, suggesting that island hopping from Kamchatka into the western Aleutian Islands was highly unlikely. The primary determinant of the distribution of genes throughout the archipelago is geography. The most intimate relationship exists between the genetics (based on mtDNA sequences and intermatch/mismatch distances) and geographic distances (measured in kilometers). However, the Y-chromosome haplogroup frequencies are not significantly correlated with the geography of the Aleutian Islands. The underlying patterns of precontact genetic structure based on Y-chromosome markers of the Aleut populations is obscured because of the gene flow from Russian male colonizers and Scandinavian and English fishermen. We consider alternative theories about the peopling of the Americas from Siberia. In addition, we attempt a synthesis between archaeological and genetic data for the Aleutian Islands. KEY WORDS: MITOCHONDRIAL DNA SEQUENCES, Y-CHROMOSOME MARKERS, GENETIC DISCONTINUITY, GENETIC STRUCTURE, ALEUTIAN ARCHIPELAGO, SIBERIAN ESKIMOS, ALASKAN ESKIMOS, CHUKCHI, KAMCHATKA, ALEUTS., Until the mid-1980s and the development of molecular methods, the reconstruction of human origins was based primarily on archaeological, morphological, linguistic, and genetic data. The genetic characterizations of populations were [...]

We typed a subset of the Aleut population for HLA loci (HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-DRB1, HLA-DQB1) to obtain an HLA profile, which was compared to other Eurasian and Amerindian populations for studying Aleut origin and its significance on the peopling of the Americas. Allele frequencies at the four loci were identified in an Aleut sample using standard indirect DNA sequencing methods. Genetic distances with Amerindians and Eurasians were obtained by comparing Aleut allele frequencies with a worldwide population database (13,164 chromosomes). The most frequently extended HLA haplotypes were also calculated. We also generated Aleut relatedness dendrograms and calculated correspondence relatedness in a multidimensional scale. Both neighbor-joining dendrograms and correspondence analysis separated Aleuts from Eskimos and Amerindians. Aleuts are closer genetically to Europeans, including Scandinavians and English. Our results are concordant with those obtained by Y-chromosome analysis, suggesting that most male Aleut ancestors of our sample came mainly from Europe. KEY WORDS: ALEUTS, AMERINDIANS, EUROPEANS, FINNS, HLA., Aleuts are closely linked to the Eskimos with regard to the peopling of the Americas, but according to cultural and anthropological parameters, they have a distinct culture and a different [...]

This study investigates the genetic structure of the present-day inhabitants of Beringia in order to answer questions concerning their origins and evolution. According to recent studies, the ancestors of Native Americans paused for a time in Beringia, during which they differentiated genetically from other Asians before peopling the New World. Furthermore, the Koryaks of Kamchatka share a 'ubiquitous' allele (D9S1120) with Native Americans, indicating they may have descended from the same ancestral Beringian population that gave rise to the New World founders. Our results show that a genetic barrier exists between Kamchatkans (Koryaks and Even) and Bering Island inhabitants (Aleuts, mixed Aleuts, and Russians), based on Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA) and structure analysis of nine autosomal short tandem repeats (STRs). This is supported by mitochondrial DNA evidence, but not by analysis of Y chromosome markers, as recent non-native male admixture into the region appears to have partially obscured ancient population relationships. Our study indicates that while Aleuts are descended from the original New World founders, the Koryaks are unlikely to represent a Beringian remnant of the ancestral population that gave rise to Native Americans. They are instead, like the Even, more recent arrivals to Kamchatka from interior Siberia, and the 'ubiquitous' allele in Koryaks may result from recent gene flow from Chukotka. Genbank accession numbers for mtDNA sequences: GQ922935-GQ922973. Am J Phys Anthropol 143:6274, 2010. KEY WORDS population genetics; Beringia; Aleut; Koryak; Even DOI 10.1002/ajpa.21290

The journal Human Biology was founded 80 years ago by Raymond Pearl, an eminent biologist and professor of biometry and vital statistics at Johns Hopkins University. In celebration of the [...]

The Yakuts are a Turkic-speaking population from northeastern Siberia who are believed to have originated from ancient Turkic populations in South Siberia, based on archaeological and ethno-historical evidence. In order to better understand Yakut origins, we modeled 25 demographic scenarios and tested by coalescent simulation whether any are consistent with the patterns of mtDNA diversity observed in present-day Yakuts. The models consist of either two simulated demes that represent Yakuts and a South Siberian ancestral population, or three demes that also include a regional Northeast Siberian population that served as a source of local gene flow into the Yakut deme. The model that produced the best fit to the observed data defined a founder group with an effective female population size of only 150 individuals that migrated northwards approximately 1,000 years BP and who experienced significant admixture with neighboring populations in Northeastern Siberia. These simulation results indicate a pronounced founder effect that was primarily kin-structured and reconcile reported discrepancies between Yakut mtDNA and Y chromosome diversity levels. KEY WORDS Yakut origins; mitochondrial DNA; coalescent simulation

Consumption of omega 3 fatty acids is known to have health benefits. For many years, the importance of the only member of the omega 3 family considered to be essential, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), has been overlooked. Current research indicates that ALA, along with its longer chain metabolites, may play an important role in many physiological functions. Potential benefits of ALA include cardioprotective effects, modulation of the inflammatory response, and a positive impact on both central nervous system function and behavior. Recommended levels for ALA intake have been set, yet the possible advantages of its consumption are just being revealed.

The National Epirubicin Adjuvant Trial (NEAT) and the BR9601 trial were designed jointly by English and Scottish investigators in 1994 and 1995 to determine the value of anthracyclines in the adjuvant treatment of early breast cancer. Adjuvant treatment of early breast cancer with epirubicin plus CMF was significantly superior over CMF alone in terms of relapse free survival and overall survival, and hence epirubicin plus CMF as an option for anthracycline-based adjuvant chemotherapy in women with early breast cancer was recommended.

The native peoples of Gorno Altai in southern Siberia represent a genetically diverse population and have been of great interest to anthropological genetics. In particular, the southern Altaian population is argued to be the best candidate for the New World ancestral population. In this study we sampled Altai-Kizhi from the southern Altaian village of Mendur-Sokkon, analyzed mtDNA RFLP markers and HVS-I sequences, and compared the results to other published mtDNA data from Derenko et al. (2003) and Shields et al. (1993) encompassing the same region. Because each independent study uses different sampling techniques in characterizing gene pools, in this paper we explore the accuracy and reliability of evolutionary studies on human populations. All the major Native American haplogroups (A, B, C, and D) were identified in the Mendur-Sokkon sample, including a single individual belonging to haplogroup X. The most common mtDNA lineages are C (35.7%) and D (13.3%), which is consistent with the haplogroup profiles of neighboring Siberian groups. The Mendur-Sokkon sample exhibits depressed HVS-I diversity values and neutrality test scores, which starkly differs from the Derenko et al. (2003) data set and more closely resembles the results for neighboring south Siberian groups. Furthermore, the multidimensional scaling plot of DA genetic distances does not cluster the Altai samples, showing different genetic affinities with various Asian groups. The findings underscore the importance of sampling strategy in the reconstruction of evolutionary history at the population level. KEY WORDS: ALTAI, SIBERIA, RFLP, mtDNA, MOLECULAR ANALYSIS., To identify differences among various samples from the same geographic area and to investigate the effect of independent sampling on the reconstruction of human evolutionary history, we examined multiple data [...]

The extent of population subdivision based on 15 Y-chromosome polymorphisms was studied in seven subcastes of the Golla (Karnam, Pokanati, Erra, Doddi, Punugu, Puja, and Kurava), who inhabit the Chittoor district of southern Andhra Pradesh, India. These Golla subcastes are traditionally pastoralists, culturally homogeneous and endogamous. DNA samples from 146 Golla males were scored for seven unique event polymorphisms (UEPs) and eight microsatellites, permitting allocation of each into haplogroups and haplotypes, respectively. Genetic diversity (D) was high (range, 0.9048-0.9921), and most of the genetic variance (>91%) was explained by intrapopulation differences. Median-joining network analysis of microsatellite haplotypes demonstrated an absence of any structure according to subcaste affiliation. Superimposition of UEPs on this phylogeny, however, did create some distinct clusters, indicating congruence between haplotype and haplogroup phylogenies. Our results suggest many male ancestors for the Golla as well as for each of the subcastes. Genetic distances among the seven subcastes, based on autosomal markers (short tandem repeats and human leukocyte antigens) as well as those on the chromosome Y, indicate that the Kurava may not be a true subcaste of the Golla. Although this finding is based on a very small Kurava sample, it is in accordance with ethnohistorical accounts related by community elders. The Punugu was the first to hive off the main Golla group, and the most recently separated subcastes (Karnam, Erra, Doddi, and Pokanati) fissioned from the Puja. This phylogeny receives support from the analysis of autosomal microsatellites as well as HLA loci in the same samples. In particular, there is a significant correlation (r = 0.8569; P = 0.0097) between Y-chromosome- and autosomal STR-based distances. KEY WORDS genetic structure; Y-chromosome; haplotypes; caste system; Golla; India

The mtDNA variation of 198 Aleuts, as well as North American and Asian populations drawn from the literature, were analyzed to reconstruct the Aleuts' genetic prehistory and to investigate their role in the peopling of the Circumarctic region. From median-joining network analysis, three star-like clusters were identified in the Aleuts within the following subhaplogroups: A3, A7 (an Aleut-specific subclade of A3), and D2. Mismatch analyses, neutrality test scores, and coalescent time estimates for these three components provided evidence of two expansion events, one occurring at approximately 19,900 B.P. and the other at 5,400 B.P. Based on these findings and evidence from the archaeological data, four general models for the genetic prehistory of the Aleutian Island chain are proposed: 11 biological continuity involving a kin-structured peopling of the archipelago; 2) intrusion and expansion of a non-native biface-producing population dominated by subhaplogroup D2; 3) amalgamation of Arctic Small Tool tradition peoples characterized by D2 with an older Anangula substratum; and 41 biological continuity with significant gene flow from neighboring populations of the Alaskan mainland and Kodiak Island. The Aleut mtDNAs are consistent with the Circumarctic pattern by the fixation of A3 and D2, and the exhibition of depressed diversity levels relative to Amerind and Siberian groups. The results of this study indicate a broad postglacial reexpansion of Na-Dene and Esko-Aleuts from reduced populations within northern North America, with D2 representing a later infusion of Siberian mtDNAs into the Beringian gene pool. KEY WORDS Aleuts; mtDNA; mismatch analysis; reduced median network analysis

The aim of this study was to determine whether the high concentration of arachidonic acid (AA) in term placentae accumulates during pregnancy or is an inherent characteristic of placental lipids. We investigated the lipid content and fatty acid composition of the human placental phospholipids at 2 gestational periods, early in pregnancy (8-14 wk, n = 48) and at term (38-41 wk of gestation, n = 19). The subjects were healthy, normotensive, and free of medical and obstetric complications. The lipid concentration of placentae increased from 0.8% in early gestation to 1.4% at term (P < 0.0001). The mean proportions of AA were lower in the choline (P < 0.05), inositol (P < 0.0001), and ethanolamine (P < 0.0001) phosphoglycerides of the term compared with the early placenta. In contrast, the proportions of the immediate precursor of AA, dihomo-[gamma]-linolenic acid (DGLA), were higher in the term placenta, particularly in the inositol and serine phosphoglycerides (P < 0.0001). In sphingomyelin, the percentage of lignoceric acid was increased and that of nervonic acid was reduced at term (P < 0.01). The dominance of AA, particularly in the early placenta, suggests that it has an important role for placental development, i.e., organogenesis and vascularization. There was no evidence of an accumulation of AA in the placenta toward term, which might be a trigger for parturition. In contrast, the increased proportion of DGLA (precursor of the vasorelaxant and anticoagulant prostaglandin [E.sub.1]) at term is more consistent with a profile favoring optimal blood flow to nourish the fetal growth spurt. KEY WORDS: * early placenta * term placenta * arachidonic acid

KEY TERMS: JOURNAL HISTORY., The journal Human Biology was founded 75 years ago by Raymond Pearl, an eminent biologist and Professor of Biometry and Vital Statistics at Johns Hopkins University. In celebration of the [...]

FastSPECT II is a recently commissioned 16-camera small-animal SPECT imager built with modular scintillation cameras and list-mode data-acquisition electronics. The instrument is housed in a lead-shielded enclosure and has exchangeable aperture assemblies and adjustable camera positions for selection of magnification, pinhole size, and field of view. The calibration of individual cameras and measurement of an overall system imaging matrix (1 [mm.sup.3] voxels) are supported via a five-axis motion-control system. Details of the system integration and results of characterization and performance measurements are presented along with first tomographic images. The dynamic imaging capabilities of the instrument are explored and discussed. Index Terms--Dynamic, high-resolution, list-mode, small animal, SPECT.

The history of science contains numerous instances where the observation of spontaneous natural or social phenomena by thoughtful practitioners and researchers have triggered profound insights that have then been articulated [...]

Published data on palmar interdigital ridge counts (a-b, b-c, and c-d) among 57 populations from the Indian subcontinent were analyzed with reference to ethnic, socioeconomic, linguistic, and geographic affiliations of the studied populations. The spatial autocorrelation analysis suggests significant correlation between dermatoglyphic and geographic distances. The congruence with the ethnic semblance of the groups is also apparent in the data, and, in fact, the multiresponse permutation procedure did suggest highly significant within-group homogeneity, confirming the biological validity of the social and ethnic criteria used in the analysis. The plots of populations on the first two principal components, accounting for 92% of the total variance, complement and support the results based on the other analyses, which show certain ethnic and geographic patterns. These findings can serve as baseline information for future studies on population variation in India, particularly studies based on molecular genetic markers, a trend that has already gained momentum. KEY WORDS: PALMAR INTERDIGITAL RIDGE COUNTS, DERMATOGLYPHICS, PRINCIPAL COMPONENTS ANALYSIS, SPATIAL AUTOCORRELATION, INDIA, The people of India exhibit a unique panorama of social, cultural, and ethnic diversity because of different waves of migration and other historical events. Anthropologists have solicited support from biological [...]

The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variation in 179 Aleuts from five different islands (Atka, Unalaska, Umnak, St. Paul, and St. George) and Anchorage was analyzed to better understand the origins of Aleuts and their role in the peopling of the Americas. Mitochondrial DNA samples were characterized using polymerase chain reaction amplification, restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, and direct sequencing of the first hypervariable segment (HVS-I) of the control region. This study showed that Aleut mtDNAs belonged to two of the four haplogroups (A and D) common among Native Americans. Haplogroup D occurred at a very high frequency in Aleuts, and this, along with their unique HVS-I sequences, distinguished them from Eskimos, Athapaskan Indians, and other northern Amerindian populations. While sharing several control region sequences (CIR11, CHU14, CIR60, and CIR61) with other circumarctic populations, Aleuts lacked haplogroup A mtDNAs having the 16265G mutation that are specific to Eskimo populations. R-matrix and median network analyses indicated that Aleuts were closest genetically to Chukotkan (Chukchi and Siberian Eskimos) rather than to Native American or Kamchatkan populations (Koryaks and Itel'men). Dating of the Beringian branch of haplogroup A (16192T) suggested that populations ancestral to the Aleuts, Eskimos, and Athapaskan Indians emerged approximately 13,120 years ago, while Aleut-specific A and D sublineages were dated at 6539 ± 3511 and 6035 ± 2885 years, respectively. Our findings support the archaeologically based hypothesis that ancestral Aleuts crossed the Bering Land Bridge or Beringian platform and entered the Aleutian Islands from the east, rather than island hopping from Kamchatka into the western Aleutians. Furthermore, the Aleut migration most likely represents a separate event from those responsible for peopling the remainder of the Americas, meaning that the New World was colonized through multiple migrations. KEY WORDS: NATIVE AMERICANS, SIBERIANS, PEOPLING OF AMERICAS, MTDNA, HAPLOGROUPS, SEQUENCES, Our study focuses on the origin of the Aleuts, an Alaskan population located near the entry point into the Americas. The people who first settled the Aleutian Islands are believed [...]

HLA alleles have been determined for the first time in individuals from the Chuvashian population by DNA typing and sequencing. HLA-A, -B, -DR, and -DQ allele frequencies and extended haplotypes have also been determined, and the results compared to those for Central Europeans, Siberians and other Asians, Caucasians, Middle Easterners, and Mediterranean peoples. Genetic distances, neighbor-joining dendrograms, and correspondence analysis have been performed. Present-day Chuvash speak an Altaic-Turkic language and are genetically related to Caucasians (Georgians), Mediterraneans, and Middle Easterners, and not only to Central or Northern Europeans; Chuvash contain little indications of Central Asian-Altaic gene flow. Thus, present-day Chuvash who speak an Altaic-Turkic language are probably more closely related to ancient Mesopotamian-Hittites and northern European populations than to central Asia-Altaic people. KEY WORDS: HLA. CHUVASH, CENTRAL EUROPE, BULGARS, BULGARIANS, MACEDONIANS, MEDITERRANEANS, RUSSIANS, SIBERIANS. NA-DENE, The HLA system is the most polymorphic genetic system described in humans and consists of several closely linked loci. The strength of the multiallelic HLA system to single out individuals [...]

Gabriel W. Lasker (1912-2002), a teacher of human anatomy at Wayne State University School of Medicine and the editor-in-chief of the journal, Human Biology, displayed an interest in improving the methods of teaching biological anthropology and anatomy. He became the foremost authority in the world on the use and interpretation of surname analyses for evolutionary studies.

Ruhlen's hypothesis, based on linguistic evidence, for a common phylogenetic origin of Na-Dene and Yeniseian speakers is tested using genetic data. Gene frequency data for the Kets, the only surviving Yeniseian speakers, were collected during a field study in 1993. Data for several NaDene groups, as well as other New World and Siberian populations, were compiled from the literature. These data were analyzed using R-matrix, principal components analysis, and Mantel tests. In a comparison of 10 New World and Siberian populations using eight alleles, 55.8% of the variation was accounted for by the first principal component, and 22.1% of the variation was subsumed by the second principal component. Contrary to Ruhlen's interpretation of the linguistic data, analysis of the genetic data shows that the Na-Dene cluster with other Native American populations, while the Kets genetically resemble the surrounding Siberian groups. This conclusion is further supported by correlations that are higher when the Kets are considered unrelated to Na-Dene speakers, and an insignificant partial correlation between genes and language when geography is held constant, indicating that spatial patterning accounts for most of the variation present in these populations. KEY WORDS: NA-DENE, YENISEIAN, KETS, POPULATION GENETICS, Considerable debate has occurred over the validity of treating linguistic and genetic data as analogous measures of human relationships. Some linguists argue that these data are not comparable (Bateman et [...]

In this study, we used anthropometric data from six Andhra caste populations to examine heritability patterns of 23 anthropometric phenotypes (linear, craniofacial, and soft tissue measures) with special reference to caste differences. We obtained anthropometric data from 342 nuclear families from Brahmin, Reddy, Telaga, Nagara, Ag. Kshatriya, and Mala castes of Visakhapatnam, India. These caste groups represent the existing hierarchical stratification of Indian populations. We used a variance components approach to determine the heritability ([h.sup.2]) of these 23 anthropometric phenotypes (height, weight, BMI, etc.). The sample consisted of 1918 individuals ranging in age from 6 to 72 years (mean = 21.5, S.D. = 13.8). The heritabilities ([h.sup.2] ± S.E.) for all anthropometric traits for the entire sample were significant (p < 0.0001) and varied from 0.25 ± 0.05 (BMI) to 0.61 ± 0.05 (bizygomatic breadth) after accounting for sex, age, and caste effects. Since data on socioeco nomic and nutritional covariates were available for a subset of families, we repeated the genetic analyses using this subset, which has yielded higher heritabilities ranging from 0.21 ± 0.16 (head breadth) to 0.72 ± 0.18 (nasal breadth). In general, craniofacial measurements exhibited higher [h.sup.2] compared to linear measures. Breadth measurements and circumferences yielded more or less similar heritabilities. Age and sex effects were significant (p < 0.0001) for most of the traits, while the effects of caste, socioeconomic status, and nutritional status were inconsistent across the traits. In conclusion, anthropometric phenotypes examined in this study are under appreciable additive genetic influences. KEY WORDS: HERITABILITY, ANTHROPOMETRIC PHENOTYPES, ANDHRA CASTES, VARIANCE COMPONENTS, Anthropometric phenotypes have been used to study the genetic structure of human populations (Relethford and Lees 1982; Blangero 1990; Chakraborthy 1990; Duggirala and Crawford 1994). Anthropometric phenotypes are influenced by [...]

In this introduction to this special issue of Human Biology titled 'Anthropological Genetics in the 21st Century,' I briefly review the historical roots of anthropological genetics and the origins and [...]

Demand for the development of health services that are responsive to the views of users has led to a growing interest in the measurement of patient satisfaction. Initial reluctance to seek the views of users of mental health services focused on a debate about whether or not mentally disordered patients were able to make 'valid' comments about their treatment. More recently the development of questionnaires that claim to 'reliably measure' the views of patients have coincided with a greater acceptance of the role that such studies can play. However, it is argued that the use of these quantitative and often simplistic methods underestimate the dissatisfaction of many patients. Further exploration of the differing expectations of users and providers of services and a degree of willingness in both parties to change is required if services are to be developed that better meet the needs of patients.

Y chromosomal DNA polymorphisms have been used to study Pleistocene migrations to the American continent. In a sample of 306 men from all over the world, 32 haplotypes were established with the variations from 30 distinct polymorphic sites. The major Y haplotype in most Native Americans was followed back to recent ancestors common with Siberians, the Altaians and Kets from the Altai Mountains and the Yenissey River Basin, respectively, and then back to the next common ancestor. That one gave rise to Caucasoid Y chromosomes, likely from central Eurasia. The study indicates a mainly central Siberian origin for Native American paternal lineages for those who might have migrated to the Americas in the Upper Pleistocene.

A study was conducted to analyze the different aspects of the homogeneous acetoxylation of ethylene to vinyl acetate by palladium acetate. Ultraviolet-visible, Raman, and infrared spectroscopic techniques were utilized to carry out the analysis. Experimental results indicated that Pd acetate solvated in glacial acetic acid supports a trimeric structure. Findings also showed that dimeric species are formed through the decomposition of trimers during the presence of ethylene.

The separation of the hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)-134a from its isomer HFC-134via the differential surface adsorption on the zeolite NaX was investigated using Raman spectroscopy. The trans-gauche population ratio for HFC-134 adsorbed on NaX was found to decrease by up to 20-fold compared to the gas phase. The conformational ratio was also found to change with the HFC loading, with the polar gauche conformer being more preferred when the separation factor is maximum.

Heart valve disease appears to be common in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and can be a leading cause of death. This was demonstrated in a study of 69 people with systemic lupus erythematosus and 56 healthy volunteers. Echocardiograms revealed that 61% of the lupus patients had heart valve disease compared to only 9% of the healthy participants. The valve disease sometimes resolved and was not always associated with a worsening of lupus. Seven lupus patients died during the study, six of some type of heart disease.

We examined the distributions of seven polymorphic sites in three apolipoprotein genes (APOE, APOA4, and APOH) and their relationships with quantitative lipid levels (total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides) among the Evenki reindeer herders of central Siberia. The polymorphism data reveal several distinctive features that differentiate the Evenki from white populations: the near absence of the APOE*2 allele, the highest ever recorded frequency of the APOH*3 allele, the complete absence of the APOA*2 allele at codon 360, and significantly different frequencies at three other APOA4 polymorphic sites. Our analyses of the relationships of common apolipoprotein polymorphism and plasma lipid levels also revealed interesting results. The well-established positive association between the APOE*4 allele and LDL cholesterol level reported in white populations was not seen in the Evenki despite a comparable frequency of the APOE*4 allele. Because the Evenki have significantly lower cholesterol levels than Westernized whites, this difference in allelic effect probably reflects gene-diet interaction, which modulates the effect of APOE polymorphism on LDL cholesterol. At the APOA4 locus the HincII polymorphism at codon 127 shows a significant impact on plasma triglyceride variation in the Evenki sample: The HincII - allele was associated with higher triglyceride levels than the HincII + allele. Our data indicate that both the genetic and the environmental factors conventionally associated with cardiovascular disease risk in Western societies are different in the Evenki., Apolipoproteins (apo, protein; APO, gene) are the protein moieties of plasma lipoprotein particles that play an important role in the secretion, processing, and catabolism of lipoproteins. Genetic studies carried out [...]

Various anthropological analyses have documented extensive regional variation among populations on the subcontinent of India using morphological, protein, blood group, and nuclear DNA polymorphisms. These patterns are the product of complex population structure (genetic drift, gene flow) and a population history noted for numerous branching events. As a result, the interpretation of relationships among caste populations of South India and between Indians and continental populations remains controversial. The Hindu caste system is a general model of genetic differentiation among endogamous populations stratified by social forces (e.g., religion and occupation). The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) molecule has unique properties that facilitate the exploration of population structure. We analyzed 36 Hindu men born in Andhra Pradesh who were unrelated matrilineally through at least 3 generations and who represent 4 caste populations: Brahmin (9), Yadava (10), Kapu (7), and Relli (10). Individuals from Africa (36), Asia (36), and Europe (36) were sampled for comparison. A 200-base-pair segment of hypervariable segment 2 (HVS2) of the mtDNA control region was sequenced in all individuals. In the Indian castes 25 distinct haplotypes are identified. Aside from the Cambridge reference sequence, only two haplotypes are shared between caste populations. Middle castes form a highly supported cluster in a neighbor-joining network. Mean nucleotide diversity within each caste is 0.015, 0.012, 0.011, and 0.012 for the Brahmin, Yadava, Kapu, and Relli, respectively. mtDNA variation is highly structured between castes ([G.sub.ST] = 0.17; p < 0.002). The effects of social structure on mtDNA variation are much greater than those on variation measured by traditional markers. Explanations for this discordance include (1) the higher resolving power of mtDNA, (2) sex-dependent gene flow, (3) differences in male and female effective population sizes, and (4) elements of the kinship structure. Thirty distinct haplotypes are found in Africans, 17 in Asians, and 13 in Europeans. Mean nucleotide diversity is 0.019, 0.014, 0.009, and 0.007 for Africans, Indians, Asians, and Europeans, respectively. These populations are highly structured geographically ([G.sub.ST] = 0.15; p < 0.001). The caste populations of Andhra Pradesh cluster more often with Africans than with Asians or Europeans. This is suggestive of admixture with African populations. KEY WORDS: mtDNA, ANDHRA PRADESH, CASTES, EVOLUTION, POPULATION STRUCTURE, South Asian evolutionary history is notable for successive migrations of many different peoples from Central and East Asia, Africa, and Europe into the Indian subcontinent (Majumdar 1958). Among these groups [...]

A comparison of anthropometric data recently collected from a modern population of Evenki and data collected from a group of Evenki at the turn of the century by the Jesup expedition (Boas 1903) reveals a pattern of significant changes over this time period. The modern Evenki exhibit larger sitting height and biacromial breadth but smaller bizygomatic and nasal breadth and a shorter face. Although the differences in the postcranial characters might be attributable to improvements in health and nutrition over time, those of the head and face might also indicate increased gene flow, perhaps from European populations. The comparative analysis of the anthropometric data was expanded to a multivariate approach by use of canonical variate analysis. This analysis was performed using data from the 10 populations sampled during the Jesup expedition along with the data from a sample of modern Evenki. In general, a pattern of relationships emerged, reflecting known population interactions and linguistic affiliations to a certain extent. However, the sample of modern Evenki differed substantially from all the other samples in the analysis. Although such a separation of the modern Evenki from this set of historical Siberian populations may be the result of a secular trend, it is also highly probable that it reflects new patterns of gene flow resulting from interactions and events associated with Russian colonial expansion and in this century the establishment of the Soviet state. KEY WORDS: EVENKI, ADMIXTURE, FRANZ BOAS, CANONICAL VARIATE ANALYSIS, The story of human occupation in Siberia is an old one, with evidence of widespread human populations by the middle Paleolithic (Arutiunov and Fitzhugh 1988; Fagan 1987; Levin and Potapov [...]

Genetic variation among human populations can reflect a combination of contemporary patterns of gene flow and genetic drift as well as long-term population relationships due to population history. We examine the likely impact of past history and contemporary structure on the patterns of anthropometric variation among 31 counties in Ireland (made up of the two nations of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland). Data for 17 anthropometric measures and parent-offspring migration on 7,214 adult Irish males were taken from the large data set originally collected by Dupertuis and Dawson in the mid-1930s (Hooton et al., 1955). Patterns of genetic similarity among 31 counties were assessed using R matrix methods that allow estimation of minimum genetic distances. These distances were compared to distances reflecting history, geography, and migration using matrix permutation methods. The results indicate that among-group variation in Ireland reflects past population history to a much greater extent than contemporary patterns of migration and population size. The midland counties are distinct from other populations, and their history suggests greater genetic input from early Viking invasions. A second major pattern in biological variation is a longitudinal gradient separating western and eastern counties. This gradient appears related to patterns of early settlement and/or a concentration in the east of later immigrants, particularly from England. Comparison of regional means with published data for several other European nations confirms these hypotheses.

Philippe Lefevre-Witier was born in Reims, France, on November 11, 1934, and died on November 15, 2011. A few years ago, he retired from CNRS in Toulouse but continued teaching [...]