Showing papers by "Kailash C. Malhotra published in 1984"
01 Jan 1984
TL;DR: The nature and extent of diversity observed in Indian populations is unparalleled in the world and should more aptly be described as a living laboratory for conducting a wide array of experiments in human population structure.
Abstract: The interpretation of the temporal and spatial variation of gene frequencies in populations is one of the main aims of population genetics. Aside from the systematic evolutionary processes (mutation, selection, and admixture), non-systematic factors such as size, density, and distribution of a population, the nature of mate selection within a population, and differential fertility and viability also influence the genetic composition of a population. These non-systematic factors are generally referred to as population structure, that is, the way in which two haploid individuals produce a diploid individual. It is now well known that very different patterns exist in human populations by which this process is achieved. The pattern of choice of mates provides a fair amount of insight into the generational and spatial dynamics of a gene in a population (see among others, Cavalli-Sforza, 1958, 1962; Boyce et al., 1961; Malhotra and Majumder, 1974; Majumder, 1977; Wolanski, 1977; Majumder and Malhotra, 1979). Aspects of nature and history in the Indian subcontinent have provided circumstances of control and variation that, in many ways, approximate laboratory conditions (Karve, 1965). In fact, the nature and extent of diversity observed in Indian populations is unparalleled in the world and should more aptly be described as a living laboratory for conducting a wide array of experiments in human population structure.
30 citations
01 Jan 1984
TL;DR: Malhotra et al. as discussed by the authors found that about 7% of India's population are nomads, and that some are completely sedentary; others are seminomads; and still others are true nomads who move during the year in a cyclical rhythmic manner in a more or less fixed territory.
Abstract: Indian society consists of more than 4000 endogamous castes, tribes, and religious communities (Malhotra, 1979a). Of these, some 500 groups, constituting about 7% of India’s population are nomads (Malhotra, 1983). These nomads are in various stages of nomadism; some are completely sedentary; others are seminomads, and still others are true nomads. True nomads are the ones who move during the year in a cyclical rhythmic manner in a more or less fixed territory and who have no permanent dwellings and practice no agriculture (Bacon, 1954). The seminomads have permanent dwellings and may engage in agriculture or other persuits, but they migrate only during part of the year.
17 citations
6 citations