FAMILIAL RESEMBLANCE IN HEIGHT AND WEIGHT IN AN ENDOGAMOUS MAHISYA CASTE POPULATION OF RURAL WEST-BENGAL

Intrafamilial resemblance and heritability of height and weight in an endogamous, agricultural caste population of rural West Bengal (''Mahi sya'') were estimated from data for 540 individuals, 110 parent pairs and 187 sons and 133 daughters (children as well as adults) from 110 n uclear families. Multiple regression with age and sex adjustments was used. A trend of greater mother-child than father-child correlation wa s observed, but was not significant. Sibling correlations indicated no evidence of sex linkage. Heritability for height (h(2) = 0.603) was g reater than that for weight (h(2) = .405). (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.