The state of Punjab in the North-West part of India has acted as the main passage for all the maj... more The state of Punjab in the North-West part of India has acted as the main passage for all the major human invasions into the Indian subcontinent. It has resulted in the mixing of foreign gene pool into the local populations, which led to an extensive range of genetic diversity and has influenced the genetic structure of populations in Punjab, North-West India. The present study was conducted to examine the genetic structure, relationships, and extent of genetic differentiation in five Indo-European speaking ethnic groups of Punjab. A total of 1021 unrelated samples belonging to Banias, Brahmins, Jat Sikhs, Khatris, and Scheduled castes were analyzed for four human-specific Ins/Del polymorphic loci (ACE, APO, PLAT, and D1) and three restriction fragment length polymorphisms ESR (PvuII), LPL (PvuII), and T2 (MspI) using Polymerase chain reaction (PCR). All the loci were found to be polymorphic among the studied populations. The frequency of the Alu insertion at APO locus was observed to exhibit the highest value (82.6-96.3 %), whereas D1 exhibited the lowest (26.5-45.6 %) among all the ethnic groups. The average heterozygosity among the studied populations ranged from 0.3816 in Banias to 0.4163 in Khatris. The FST values ranged from 0.0418 to 0.0033 for the PLAT and LPL loci, respectively, with an average value being 0.0166. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Banias and Khatris are genetically closest to each other. The Jat Sikhs are genetically close to Brahmins and are distant from the Banias. The Jat Sikhs, Banias, Brahmins, and Khatris are genetically very distant from the Scheduled castes. Overall, Uniform allele frequency distribution patterns, high average heterozygosity values, and a small degree of genetic differentiation in this study suggest a genetic proximity among the selected populations. A low level of genetic differentiation was observed in the studied population groups indicating that genetic drift might have been small or negligible in shaping the genetic structure of North-West Indian Populations.
Assessment of nutritional status of a population using most appropriate growth chart is essential... more Assessment of nutritional status of a population using most appropriate growth chart is essential to establishitshealth status and for administering timely interventions. This study aimed to assess the nutritional status and its correlates among adolescent girls and to ascertain the suitable growth chart/reference to estimate undernutrition among them. The cross-sectional sample consisted of 1045 adolescent girls of scheduled caste category aged 9 to 17 years of District Yamunanagar, Haryana. Weight and height were measured to calculate Body Mass Index. Hemoglobin level of the girls was measured using Sahli’s acid haematin technique. Dietary habits, socio-demographic and micro-environmental variables were recorded using structured questionnaire. Nutritional status was evaluated with the help of BMI using different standards. Anaemic status was assessed using WHO (1968) classification.Correlates of nutritional status were investigated using Chi-square test. According to CDC (2000), c...
The present study aims to evaluate physical growth and nutritional status of children, ranging in... more The present study aims to evaluate physical growth and nutritional status of children, ranging in age from 6 to 8 years. The cross-sectional sample of 253 children (133 boys and 120 girls) belonging to low socioeconomic status were drawn from various government schools of Panchkula. Height, weight, head circumference, chest circumference and upper arm circumference were taken on each child following standard anthropometric techniques. Indices used for nutritional assessment were weight-forage , height-forage and BMI-forage based on WHO (2007) standards. Results indicated statistically significant sex differences for height, weight, head circumference and chest circumference in the total sample. ANOVA revealed significant differences between age groups for height and weight in both the sexes. Height associated significantly with all the anthropometric measurements but weight revealed significant associations with BMI and upper arm circumference in both the sexes as is evident from the value of total correlations. When compared with reference population, 28.8% children (25.6% boys, 32.5% girls) were found to be under weight (weight-forage z-score <-2 S.D.); stunting (height-forage z-score <-2 S.D.) was noticed among 19.4% children (17.9% boys, 20.9% girls); and wasting (BMI-forage z-score <-2 S.D.) was witnessed in 17.8% children (18.8% boys, 16.6% girls). Therefore, girls were found to be more undernourished in comparison with boys for weight-forage and height-forage indices, while, boys showed higher wasting than girls. The poor nutritional status of children may be attributed to synergistic action of inadequate nutrition associated with repeated infections caused due to poor environmental conditions, economic stresses, illiteracy, poor infant and young child feeding and caring practices.
The present study has attempted to generate genetic databases for three endogamous populations (K... more The present study has attempted to generate genetic databases for three endogamous populations (Khatris, Banias and Jat Sikhs) in the Indian province of Punjab for genetic characterization and for forensic and paternity investigation of DNA. The Banias and Khatris are mercantile communities while the Jat Sikhs are agriculturists. Genetic diversity and within-and amongpopulation differentiation were assessed analyzing 15 biparental and 17 Y-chromosome STRs. High autosomal and Y-STR diversity were observed in all the three populations. Biparental microsatellite markers indicated no significant differentiation among populations. Y-STRs showed that Bania population is genetically distinct from Khatris and Jat Sikh who in turn are not genetically differentiated from each other. Close genetic relationships between Khatris and Jat Sikhs were confirmed in the MDS plot generated from the pair wise genetic distances. The relatively significant differentiation of Banias particularly at Y chromosome is also evident in the MDS plot.
This paper surveys the opinions expressed in the recent literature on the origins of the anatomic... more This paper surveys the opinions expressed in the recent literature on the origins of the anatomically- modern Homo sapiens, and reviews the evidence from cranial and dental morphology argued by proponents of opposing views to support their case. It also critically analyses problems facing the interpretation of the evidence in arriving at a definitive conclusion to the debate.
The aim of the present cross-sectional study is to describe and compare age related changes in bo... more The aim of the present cross-sectional study is to describe and compare age related changes in body composition and fat patterning among rural and urban Jat females of Haryana State, India. A total of 600 females (rural=300, urban=300), ranging in age from 40 to 70 years were selected by the purposive sampling method. Body weight, height, two circumferences (waist and hip) and skinfold thickness at five different sites (biceps, triceps, calf, subscapular, and supra-iliac) were taken on each participant. To study total adiposity, indices such as body mass index (BMI), grand mean thickness (GMT), total body fat and percentage fat were analyzed statistically. The fat distribution pattern was studied using waist/hip ratio, subscapular/triceps ratio and responsiveness of five skinfold sites towards accumulation of fat at different sites with advancing age. Results indicate a decline in almost every dimension including level of fatness between the mid-fourth and mid-fifth decades of life in both rural and urban females. Urban Jat females were heavier (57.36 kg vs. 56.07 kg, p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;0.05) and significantly taller (1553.3mm vs. 1534.5mm, p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;0.001) than their rural counterparts. Urban females also exhibited higher mean values for both the circumferences, five skinfold thicknesses as well as for lean body mass, total fat and percentage fat than the rural females. This is also evident from their higher mean values for body mass index and grand mean thickness. Waist/hip ratio values in rural and urban females showed upper body fat predominance, with urban females having relatively more abdominal fat. Results of subscapular/triceps ratio showed that rural and urban females gained proportionally similar amounts of subcutaneous fat at trunk and extremity sites until 45 years of age. Subsequently trunk skinfolds increased relatively more in thickness. The magnitude of this increase was comparatively greater in rural females up to 55 years and among urban females from 55 to 70 years. The profiles of subcutaneous fat accumulation and sensitivity of each skinfold site also revealed more fat deposition in the trunk region compared to extremities in both rural and urban females. The present study demonstrated differential rates of fat redistribution among rural and urban females.
Somatotyping has proved to be a good descriptive and classification system for learning about rel... more Somatotyping has proved to be a good descriptive and classification system for learning about relative shape and body composition and their variation in populations. Change and stability of somatotype appears to be function of nutrition, exercise and health status ( ...
The state of Punjab in the North-West part of India has acted as the main passage for all the maj... more The state of Punjab in the North-West part of India has acted as the main passage for all the major human invasions into the Indian subcontinent. It has resulted in the mixing of foreign gene pool into the local populations, which led to an extensive range of genetic diversity and has influenced the genetic structure of populations in Punjab, North-West India. The present study was conducted to examine the genetic structure, relationships, and extent of genetic differentiation in five Indo-European speaking ethnic groups of Punjab. A total of 1021 unrelated samples belonging to Banias, Brahmins, Jat Sikhs, Khatris, and Scheduled castes were analyzed for four human-specific Ins/Del polymorphic loci (ACE, APO, PLAT, and D1) and three restriction fragment length polymorphisms ESR (PvuII), LPL (PvuII), and T2 (MspI) using Polymerase chain reaction (PCR). All the loci were found to be polymorphic among the studied populations. The frequency of the Alu insertion at APO locus was observed to exhibit the highest value (82.6-96.3 %), whereas D1 exhibited the lowest (26.5-45.6 %) among all the ethnic groups. The average heterozygosity among the studied populations ranged from 0.3816 in Banias to 0.4163 in Khatris. The FST values ranged from 0.0418 to 0.0033 for the PLAT and LPL loci, respectively, with an average value being 0.0166. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Banias and Khatris are genetically closest to each other. The Jat Sikhs are genetically close to Brahmins and are distant from the Banias. The Jat Sikhs, Banias, Brahmins, and Khatris are genetically very distant from the Scheduled castes. Overall, Uniform allele frequency distribution patterns, high average heterozygosity values, and a small degree of genetic differentiation in this study suggest a genetic proximity among the selected populations. A low level of genetic differentiation was observed in the studied population groups indicating that genetic drift might have been small or negligible in shaping the genetic structure of North-West Indian Populations.
Assessment of nutritional status of a population using most appropriate growth chart is essential... more Assessment of nutritional status of a population using most appropriate growth chart is essential to establishitshealth status and for administering timely interventions. This study aimed to assess the nutritional status and its correlates among adolescent girls and to ascertain the suitable growth chart/reference to estimate undernutrition among them. The cross-sectional sample consisted of 1045 adolescent girls of scheduled caste category aged 9 to 17 years of District Yamunanagar, Haryana. Weight and height were measured to calculate Body Mass Index. Hemoglobin level of the girls was measured using Sahli’s acid haematin technique. Dietary habits, socio-demographic and micro-environmental variables were recorded using structured questionnaire. Nutritional status was evaluated with the help of BMI using different standards. Anaemic status was assessed using WHO (1968) classification.Correlates of nutritional status were investigated using Chi-square test. According to CDC (2000), c...
The present study aims to evaluate physical growth and nutritional status of children, ranging in... more The present study aims to evaluate physical growth and nutritional status of children, ranging in age from 6 to 8 years. The cross-sectional sample of 253 children (133 boys and 120 girls) belonging to low socioeconomic status were drawn from various government schools of Panchkula. Height, weight, head circumference, chest circumference and upper arm circumference were taken on each child following standard anthropometric techniques. Indices used for nutritional assessment were weight-forage , height-forage and BMI-forage based on WHO (2007) standards. Results indicated statistically significant sex differences for height, weight, head circumference and chest circumference in the total sample. ANOVA revealed significant differences between age groups for height and weight in both the sexes. Height associated significantly with all the anthropometric measurements but weight revealed significant associations with BMI and upper arm circumference in both the sexes as is evident from the value of total correlations. When compared with reference population, 28.8% children (25.6% boys, 32.5% girls) were found to be under weight (weight-forage z-score <-2 S.D.); stunting (height-forage z-score <-2 S.D.) was noticed among 19.4% children (17.9% boys, 20.9% girls); and wasting (BMI-forage z-score <-2 S.D.) was witnessed in 17.8% children (18.8% boys, 16.6% girls). Therefore, girls were found to be more undernourished in comparison with boys for weight-forage and height-forage indices, while, boys showed higher wasting than girls. The poor nutritional status of children may be attributed to synergistic action of inadequate nutrition associated with repeated infections caused due to poor environmental conditions, economic stresses, illiteracy, poor infant and young child feeding and caring practices.
The present study has attempted to generate genetic databases for three endogamous populations (K... more The present study has attempted to generate genetic databases for three endogamous populations (Khatris, Banias and Jat Sikhs) in the Indian province of Punjab for genetic characterization and for forensic and paternity investigation of DNA. The Banias and Khatris are mercantile communities while the Jat Sikhs are agriculturists. Genetic diversity and within-and amongpopulation differentiation were assessed analyzing 15 biparental and 17 Y-chromosome STRs. High autosomal and Y-STR diversity were observed in all the three populations. Biparental microsatellite markers indicated no significant differentiation among populations. Y-STRs showed that Bania population is genetically distinct from Khatris and Jat Sikh who in turn are not genetically differentiated from each other. Close genetic relationships between Khatris and Jat Sikhs were confirmed in the MDS plot generated from the pair wise genetic distances. The relatively significant differentiation of Banias particularly at Y chromosome is also evident in the MDS plot.
This paper surveys the opinions expressed in the recent literature on the origins of the anatomic... more This paper surveys the opinions expressed in the recent literature on the origins of the anatomically- modern Homo sapiens, and reviews the evidence from cranial and dental morphology argued by proponents of opposing views to support their case. It also critically analyses problems facing the interpretation of the evidence in arriving at a definitive conclusion to the debate.
The aim of the present cross-sectional study is to describe and compare age related changes in bo... more The aim of the present cross-sectional study is to describe and compare age related changes in body composition and fat patterning among rural and urban Jat females of Haryana State, India. A total of 600 females (rural=300, urban=300), ranging in age from 40 to 70 years were selected by the purposive sampling method. Body weight, height, two circumferences (waist and hip) and skinfold thickness at five different sites (biceps, triceps, calf, subscapular, and supra-iliac) were taken on each participant. To study total adiposity, indices such as body mass index (BMI), grand mean thickness (GMT), total body fat and percentage fat were analyzed statistically. The fat distribution pattern was studied using waist/hip ratio, subscapular/triceps ratio and responsiveness of five skinfold sites towards accumulation of fat at different sites with advancing age. Results indicate a decline in almost every dimension including level of fatness between the mid-fourth and mid-fifth decades of life in both rural and urban females. Urban Jat females were heavier (57.36 kg vs. 56.07 kg, p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;0.05) and significantly taller (1553.3mm vs. 1534.5mm, p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;0.001) than their rural counterparts. Urban females also exhibited higher mean values for both the circumferences, five skinfold thicknesses as well as for lean body mass, total fat and percentage fat than the rural females. This is also evident from their higher mean values for body mass index and grand mean thickness. Waist/hip ratio values in rural and urban females showed upper body fat predominance, with urban females having relatively more abdominal fat. Results of subscapular/triceps ratio showed that rural and urban females gained proportionally similar amounts of subcutaneous fat at trunk and extremity sites until 45 years of age. Subsequently trunk skinfolds increased relatively more in thickness. The magnitude of this increase was comparatively greater in rural females up to 55 years and among urban females from 55 to 70 years. The profiles of subcutaneous fat accumulation and sensitivity of each skinfold site also revealed more fat deposition in the trunk region compared to extremities in both rural and urban females. The present study demonstrated differential rates of fat redistribution among rural and urban females.
Somatotyping has proved to be a good descriptive and classification system for learning about rel... more Somatotyping has proved to be a good descriptive and classification system for learning about relative shape and body composition and their variation in populations. Change and stability of somatotype appears to be function of nutrition, exercise and health status ( ...
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