American Journal of Physical Anthropology

doi: 10.1002/ajpa.1330680301pmid: N/A

Ferrell, Robert E.; Majumder, Partha P.; Smith, David G.

doi: 10.1002/ajpa.1330680302pmid: 3864380

Genealogical and gene marker data from the closely related species Macaca mulatta and Macaca fascicularis have been used to search for linkage between genes coding for the blood proteins albumin, carbonic anhydrase 1 and 2, diaphorase 1 and 2, group‐specific component, glucose phosphate isomerase, hemoglobin alpha chains, isocitrate dehydrogenase, prealbumin, and transferrin. The results are consistent with conservation of the linkage between the loci coding for albumin and group‐specific component and loci coding for the two carbonic anhydrase isozymes, as observed in other species. Among the 38 possible pairwise comparisons, no new linkage groups were identified. Tight linkage can be excluded for most pairs of loci.

Owsley, Douglas W.; Jantz, Richard L.

doi: 10.1002/ajpa.1330680303pmid: 3904476

Prenatal growth is adversely affected by poor socioeconomic conditions where disease and chronic undernutrition prevail. Premature and small‐for‐gestational‐age births occur at higher frequency.

Shea, Brian T.

doi: 10.1002/ajpa.1330680304pmid: 3933361

The study of hominoid phylogeny is currently in a state of controversy and debate due to the discovery of new fossil material and reanalysis of the morphology of extant apes. An important key to the resolution of these debates lies in attaining a fuller understanding of the morphological differences in skull form between the African and Asian great apes. In this paper I have analyzed aspects of facial morphology and internal cranial anatomy in the great apes. Results from this study and previous ones suggest that Pongo is characterized by a marked dorsal deflection of the face relative to the basicranium. Many aspects of circumorbital, midfacial, palatal, and mandibular morphology in Pongo may be related to this airorynchous condition. This hypothesis, is supported by Enlow's work on form and pattern in the primate and mammalian skull. The position of the face in known Sivapithecus appears to be similar to that seen in Pongo. AlthoughPongo may be specialized in its marked degree of airorynchy, it seems likely that an important derived feature linking African apes and hominids is a ventral rotation of the splanchnocranium on the neurocranium. The appearance of marked supraorbital tori and ethmofrontal sinuses are probably correlated developments. Additional implications of this work for debates about hominoid phylogeny are discussed.

Richards, Gary D.

doi: 10.1002/ajpa.1330680305pmid: 3904477

Microcephaly is a severe developmental abnormality which is induced either genetically or environmentally. The archaeological evidence for the occurrence of this abnormality is minimal. Out of six possible cases, only three have been published; all are adult and represented solely by cranial remains. The focus of the current study is the nearly complete skeleton of a 3‐year‐old child recovered during archaeological excavations in San Jose, California. The individual is compared to a sample of 184 California Indians, ranging from 0.5 to 5 years, which were also recovered from archaeological excavations. In order to determine if microcephaly was the only disorder represented, metrical comparisons of the skull and postcrania and gross mor‐phological comparisons of endocranial casts were made. Based on these comparisons the individual was determined to have a cranial vault size comparable to 6‐month‐old infants (630 cc), a facial skeleton equivalent to the 9‐month‐old to 2‐year‐old age groups, and a reduced stature. Due to the mosaic nature of the skull, the observed morphology was interpreted in terms of functional cranial components. Severe malformation of the orbital aspect of the frontal lobes was found in conjunction with a significant reduction in size of the cerebral cortex and left temporal lobe. On the basis of this analysis, the individual was found to exhibit the total morphological pattern associated with microcephaly: A differential diagnosis of other possible genetic disorders is also presented.

Ashizawa, Kumi; Kuki, Tanemi; Kusumoto, Ayano

doi: 10.1002/ajpa.1330680306pmid: 4061617

Dorsal moiré topographies of 165 boys and 156 girls, aged 13 and 14, were investigated. Moiré fringe patterns were classified into seven types, of which type IV, thin and symmetric back, was most frequent (29% in boys and 22% in girls), and types I and II thoracic, fleshy back, were observed in 15% of boys and 29% of girls. Settling four prominent points on the back, length, depth (number of fringes), angles between these points, and the most depressed point on the lumbar region were measured. Neither bilateral or sex differences were detected in length and depth measurements, whereas larger right side angles were observed as a general tendency. In both sexes, significant correlation was detected between measurements on points situated in the inner part of the back, while on points situated in the outer parts only angle and length correlation was significant.

Dow, Malcolm M.; Cheverud, James M.

doi: 10.1002/ajpa.1330680307pmid: 4061618

Questions concerning the relative effects of various evolutionary forces in molding the genetic variability exhibited by groups of human populations have typically been investigated by comparing a variety of genetic and cultural/historical “distance” matrices. A major methodological difficulty has been the lack of formal testing procedures with which to assess the degree of confirmation or disconfirmation of an estimated measure of relationship between such matrices. In this paper, we examine a very flexible matrix combinatorial procedure which generates statistical significance levels for correlational measures of pattern similarity between distance matrices. A recent generalization of the basic procedure to the three‐matrix case allowsquestions concerning which of two matrices best fits a third matrix to be formally tested. Applications of these hypothesis testing and inference procedures to two separate sets of genetic, geographic, and cultural distance matrices illustrates their potential for finally solving a long‐standing problem in anthropological genetics.

Smith, Fred H.; Boyd, Donna C.; Malez, Mirko

doi: 10.1002/ajpa.1330680308pmid: 3933362

This report presents a morphological description of ten hominid skeletal fragments found at Vindija cave, northwestern Yugoslavia, in 1980‐1981. Eight of the specimens (seven cranial fragments and one complete hand proximal phalanx) were excavated from level G3, a stratum correlated to the Lower Würm stadial and containing Mousterian lithic elements. The salient morphological features of these new specimens are similar to those of previously described hominids from this same stratum, indicating that the new specimens are also remains of archaic H. sapiens (Neandertals). One parietal fragment was excavated from the stratigraphically more recent F complex. The F complex contains Upper Paleolithic lithic elements, and the new hominid specimen from this complex appears to exhibit features similar to other early modern H. sapiens in southcentral Europe.

Malina, Robert M.; Little, Bertis B.; Buschang, Peter H.; DeMoss, John; Selby, Henry A.

doi: 10.1002/ajpa.1330680309pmid: 4061619

Socioeconomic variation in the growth status of 293 children, 6 through 13 years of age, from a rural subsistence agricultural community in southern Mexico was considered. Socioeconomic status was based on an index developed from landholdings, household goods, and occupation, and households were classified as high and low status. Growth measurements included weight, stature, sitting height, estimated leg length, arm and estimated arm muscle circumferences, triceps skinfold, and right gripping strength. The growth status of boys showed a clear socioeconomic differential, while that of girls did not. The results are consistent with the generalization that males are more influenced by environmental stresses than females, including, of course, the favorable stress of improved socioeconomic circumstances, even within seemingly single‐class rural communities.

McCullough, John M.

doi: 10.1002/ajpa.1330680310pmid: 4061620

The Kolmogorov‐Smirnov one‐sample test is sometimes used to test seasonality in births or other annually cyclic phenomena. However, it is shown that the maximum deviation from expected (D) may differ by a factor of almost two if the cycle is initiated in different months. Thus, different results are possible from the same data. Unless there is a logical initiation point in a cycle, it is probably better to use other nonparametric statistical tests.