Four Achievements of the Genetical Method in Physical Anthropology

Abstract

THE use of genetical methods in physical anthropology, which really began with the Hirszfelds' classical paper (1919:675) is no longer new and is now widely accepted. Genetical methods are referred to, in an approving tone, in many books and articles published during the last few years. The late Prof. Hooton (1946) devoted 18 pages out of 788 to genetical methods, and Montagu (1960:327) devotes 93 out of 771 to the subject, giving it avery up-to-date treatment, and stating, . . . if we are to trace the relationships of the varieties of man to one another, it is necessary that we rely on criteria which possess a more permanent character than the shifting sands of head shape .... Such characters are available in the blood groups, in the M-N in the Rh-Hr blood types and in the hemoglobin and haptoglobin types of man. In addition to the characteristics mentioned by Montagu, we now know of a number of other inherited traits of man that either are or will doubtless become useful. One might well ask, are there any longer any skeptics? The answer to this question seems to be: yes, there are skeptics, and some of them are rather vocal. Worse than this, examination of some of the books and papers written by authors who seem to welcome the genetical method suggests that they, in reaching their conclusions, actually make very little use of the data and modes of reasoning that such methods provide. Layrisse and Wilbert (1960) state that in their experience about four out of ten physical anthropologists are still doubtful about the value of blood grouping in their science. Probably most of us have had one or more of the older physical anthropologists inquire, in conversation, Now frankly, what have blood groups ever proved that we didn't know already? L. Oschinsky (1959:1) has not hesitated to carry the war into his enemy's country. He says, Nowhere has Professor Boyd posed the question as to whether or not the characteristics he is choosing are taxonomically relevant .... Unfortunately for Professor Boyd, it is the polygenic features such as skin colour, hair texture, nose shape, lip thickness, which have the greatest taxonomic value. And why is it necessary to understand the mechanism of inheritance if one is concerned with the question of distinguishing between the various racial groups which, Professor Boyd states, is one of the chief aims of physical anthropology? (my italics) A few years ago, at a seminar at Columbia University, a distinguished American physical anthropologist delivered a detailed attack on the blood groups as anthropological criteria, partly on the grounds that they may respond too readily to selection pressures. More recently, two Polish anthropologists, Bielicki (1962:3) and Wiercinski (1962:2) have also attacked the use of