Fractionation of Genes

Abstract

AFTER study of a dwarf tribe of Papuans at Aiome in the mountains of New Guinea in 1958 (not yet published), the conclusion was reached that they originated as a single-gene dwarf mutation from their tall neighbours who live at lower altitudes. This conclusion has since been confirmed by Champness et al. ¹, who find that the blood groups of the tall and dwarf tribes in this area are essentially the same while the serology of a dwarf tribe in another part of New Guinea was markedly different. This supports the view that in mankind dwarf tribes or races have originated many times independently in different parts of the world, as they are known to have done in animals. In Africa it was concluded² that the Congo Pygmies arose long ago as a single-gene achondroplastic dwarf mutation from a tall race probably with mahogany skin colour.