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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

Summary

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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

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