Testing evolutionary hypotheses about human biological adaptation using cross-cultural comparison

Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part A: Molecular and Integrative Physiology Vol/Iss. 136(1) Elsevier Published In Pages: 85-94
By Mace, Ruth, Jordan, Fiona M., Holden, Clare

Abstract

Can physiological variation in human populations be attributed to environmental variables? Arguing for the importance of phylogenetic comparative methods, the authors present the results of previous research by Holden & Mace (1997) on lactose intolerance as well as introduce new research on sex ratio at birth. The authors suggest that global variance in sex ratio at birth is an adapted response to the physiological costs of giving birth to boys in high fertility populations.

Samples

Sample Used Coded Data Comment
CIA World FactbookOther researchersData on sex ratio at birth drawn from CIA World Factbook.
WHO (1995)Other researchersData on maternal mortality ratio.
Cavalli-Sforza et al. (1994) worldwide genetic treeOther researchersAuthors selected Old World countries then matched the major ethnic groups to those on the genetic tree.

Documents and Hypotheses Filed By:isanaraja