Thrifty phenotype versus cold adaptation: trade-offs in upper limb proportions of Himalayan populations of Nepal.
| Autor: | Payne S; Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK., Kumar Bc R; Pokhara University Research Centre, Pokhara, Nepal., Pomeroy E; School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK., Macintosh A; Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK., Stock J; Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.; Department of Anthropology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada. |
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| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Zdroj: | Royal Society open science [R Soc Open Sci] 2018 Jun 20; Vol. 5 (6), pp. 172174. Date of Electronic Publication: 2018 Jun 20 (Print Publication: 2018). |
| DOI: | 10.1098/rsos.172174 |
| Abstrakt: | The multi-stress environment of high altitude has been associated with growth deficits in humans, particularly in zeugopod elements (forearm and lower leg). This is consistent with the thrifty phenotype hypothesis, which has been observed in Andeans, but has yet to be tested in other high-altitude populations. In Himalayan populations, other factors, such as cold stress, may shape limb proportions. The current study investigated whether relative upper limb proportions of Himalayan adults ( n = 254) differ between highland and lowland populations, and whether cold adaptation or a thrifty phenotype mechanism may be acting here. Height, weight, humerus length, ulna length, hand length and hand width were measured using standard methods. Relative to height, total upper limb and ulna lengths were significantly shorter in highlanders compared with lowlanders in both sexes, while hand and humerus length were not. Hand width did not significantly differ between populations. These results support the thrifty phenotype hypothesis, as hand and humerus proportions are conserved at the expense of the ulna. The reduction in relative ulna length could be attributed to cold adaptation, but the lack of difference between populations in both hand length and width indicates that cold adaptation is not shaping hand proportions in this case. Competing Interests: We declare we have no competing interests. |
| Databáze: | MEDLINE |
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