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The present paper is based on the Research Project entitled "Impact of Technological and Economic Development Programme on Bio-Cultural Heritage of Gaddis and Pangwalas Population Groups of Himachal Pradesh". The project was framed after UNESCO/MAB Project Nos. 6 and 12 under UNESCO Programme on Man Biosphere (MAB) and supported by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. The population groups under investigation are: 1. Transhumant Gaddis of Bharmour Sub-Tehsil, Chamba District; 2. Settled Gaddis of Kangra District; and 3. Pangwalas of Pangi Tehsil, Chamba District, Himachal Pradesh. The carrying capacity has been calculated for Pangi and Bharmour Sub-Tehsil and it has been observed that in both the places the size of population is beyond the capacity of the land. The pattern of body growth and respiratory functions among Transhumant Gaddis of Bharmour Sub-Tehsil, Chamba District and Settled Gaddis of Kangra District have been studied. Statistically non-significant differences in most of the biological variables have been observed among these groups.

Long term exposure to natural background radiation could cause gross abnormalities in individuals and at the population level. Studies conducted on the coastal Kerala population which is known to be receiving fifteen times the normal permissible dose of radiation support this. This study aims at understanding the deviations, if any, in the normal human variation as a result of such high natural radiation. A detailed quantitative and qualitative dermatoglyphic study was done on two communities i.e. Hindus and Christians, living separately in the radiation area. The significant differences were observed between control and exposed groups with regard to d-t ridge count, distances c-t and angle atd. The susceptibility of the axial triradius to environmental distrubances is discussed.

In the literature widely scattered Indian data on the gene frequencies of Inv, Gm, Gc, ADA, AK, ap, PGM1, 6-PGD and EsD polymorphisms have been compiled. The geographic and ethnic impacts of these data are discussed.--Additionally the results of blood group (A1A2BO, MN), serum protein group (Hp, Gc, Tf, Gm, Inv) and enzyme group (AK, aP, PGM1, 6-PGD, EsD) typings on a sample of 101 Jains, a population group in the area around Delhi, are presented here.

Ventilatory capacity (forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume and maximal voluntary ventilation) among Highland Bods (3514 m altitude) was higher than in an ethnically similar population residing at a lower altitude in Kulu Valley (1500--2200 m). Increased ventilatory capacity appears to have developed among native highlanders as a consequence of a biological response to high altitude. Numerous factors such as low oxygen pressure, increased work-load and minimal air pollution may explain these findings.

Frequency distributions of colour blindness, midphalangeal hair, ear lobe attachment, hand clasping, arm folding, leg folding and handedness are reported for different population groups from Himachal Pradesh, North India, namely Pangwalas, Transhumant Gaddis (Brahmans, Rajputs and Scheduled Castes) and Settled Gaddis (Brahmans, Rajputs and Schedules Castes). An attempt has been made to compare the results of the present study within and between these groups as well as with the results of other reports from different population groups of India and Asia.