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Genetic and morphometric variances in three human populations
L H Schmitt1, G A Harrison, R W Hiorns
1Department of Biological Anthropology, University of Oxford, U.K.
Annals of Human Genetics
|May 1, 1988
Summary
This study found no link between genetic heterozygosity and physical traits in humans. Apparent connections were due to other factors, suggesting genetic variation doesn't directly predict anthropometric means.
Area of Science:
- Human genetics
- Anthropometry
- Population genetics
Background:
- The relationship between genetic variation and physical traits is a key area in evolutionary biology.
- Previous hypotheses suggested heterozygosity might correlate with morphological means.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between genetic heterozygosity and anthropometric variances across three human populations.
- To test the hypothesis that heterozygotes are closer to the population mean for physical traits.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of genetic marker loci and anthropometric data from three distinct human populations.
- Statistical examination of correlations between heterozygosity and morphological characters.
Main Results:
- No consistent evidence was found supporting the hypothesis across the studied populations.
- In one population, apparent support was attributed to confounding factors like trait correlations and population substructure.
- The low association between measured and total heterozygosity limits intrapopulation comparisons.
Conclusions:
- The study refutes a direct relationship between heterozygosity at marker loci and anthropometric means in humans.
- Confounding population-specific factors can create spurious correlations.
- Detecting such genetic-morphological links via intrapopulation studies is challenging.