Effect of Inbreeding and Albinos Among Dhankut-

Effect of Inbreeding and Albinos Among Dhankut- A Genetical
Analysis
-Dr. Alok Chantia
Lecturer, Dept. of Anthropology
Sri Jai Narain Post Graduate College
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh,India
E-Mail alokchantia@rediffmail.com
Keywords : Culture, Inbreeding, Health, Disease,
Abstract:
21 albinos out of 2687 Dhankuts i.e. one albino in 127 Dhankuts comprise the world
highest ratio of albinism among Dhankut.A recessive autosomal problem, albinism is the
effect of culture and inbreeding among Dhankut. Fertility rate is decreasing and mortality
rate is increasing among Dhankut. 120 families amongst Dhankut are issueless which is
also a serious cause of inbreeding.
Dhankut is a small group living in a single pocket “Dhankuttypura” in district Bahraich
of Uttar Pradesh. No literature is available about this group. Since they are poor and
illiterate they are bound to live at a single place without any mobility They practice crosscousin
and parallel cousin marriage as they are not recognized by the adjacent
communities. Dhankut albinos are leading an indifferent life style as they cannot avail the
fruits of marriage and family due to social stigma. Due to negligence of community men
albinos are suffering from many other mental and psychological diseases, which is
nothing but an effect on emotional quotient and decreasing level of ACTH (Atripo cartico
Tropic hormone).Dhankut represent good genetical material for anthropological study.
They have no admixture so far which ultimately leads the problem of albinism,
impotency and other diseases. A relation between inbreeding, albinism and health will be
discussed in my proposed paper.
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