Summary
The medial arm region of 38 individuals of 8 families (children: 15 male and 7 female, and 8 parental couples) belonging to an endogamous caste group (Saxena Kayastha) of Delhi, was irradiated with a regulated dose of ultra-violet rays from a polychomatic U.V. lamp. Skin reflectances before and after the irradiation were obtained withthe help of EEL reflectance spectrophotometer, Observations on skin reflectance were made every 24 hrs after irradiation of the skin for 10 consequtive days. The recording of the maximum drop in the skin reflectance, as a consequence of U.V. irradiation, was thus ensured. An assessment of skin tanning potential was made with the help of these observations. Sex differences (estimated using parental data only) and parent-child correlation were studied with respect to skin tanning potential. Sex differences in skin tanning potential are found to be indiscernable in the sample. However, in skin tanning potential the parent-child correlation is found to be much higher than in the normal skin pigmentation: this seems to suggest a stricter genetic control of skin tanning potential than of normal skin pigmentation.
Zusammenfassung
Die mediale Armgegend von 38 Personen aus 8 Familien (darunter 15 männliche und 7 weibliche Kinder und 8 Elternpaare) wurde mit bestimmten Dosen von UV-Licht bestrahlt. Alle Personen stammten aus einer endogamen Kastengruppe (Saxena Kayastha). Die Hautreflektion vor und nach der Bestrahlung wurde mit Hilfe eines Reflexions-Spektralphotometers festgestellt. Auf diese Weise wurde die Fähigkeit der Haut zur Bräunung nach Lichteinfall untersucht. In dieser Eigenschaft besteht in der Stichprobe kein geschlechtlicher Unterschied, dagegen ist die Eltern-Kind-Korrelation bedeutend höher als bei der normalen Hautpigmentierung.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Blum, H. F.: The physiological effects of sun light on man. Physiol. Rev. 25, 483–530 (1945).
Blum, H. F., Terus, W. S.: Inhibition of the erythema of sun burn. Amer. J. Physiol. 146, 97–106 (1946).
Edwards, E. A., Duntley S. Q.: An analysis of skin pigment changes after exposure to sun light. Science 90, 235–237 (1939).
Harrison, G. A., Owen, J. J. T.: The application of spectrophotometry to the study of skin colour inheritance. Acta genet. (Basel) 6, 481–485 (1956/1957).
Harrison, G. A., Owen, J. J. T.: Studies on the inheritance of human skin colour. Ann. hum. Genet. 28, 27–37 (1964).
Jansen, M. T.: A reflection spectrophotometry of ultraviolet erythema and pigmentation. J. clin. Invest. 32, 1053–1060 (1953).
Kalla, A. K.: Changes in skin tanning with the changes in initial pigmentation of skin. Zinruigaku Zassi-J. Anthrop. Soc. Nippon 77, 185–194 (1969a).
Kalla, A. K.: Genetical differences in skin tanning capacity. Genetica 40, 591–596 (1969b).
Kalla, A. K., Tiwari, S. C.: Sex differences in skin colour in man. Acta Genet. med. (Roma) 19, 472–496 (1970).
Lee, M. C., Lasker, G. W.: The sun tanning potential of human skin. Hum. Biol. 31, 252–260 (1959).
Rottier, P. B.: The erythematogenous action of ultraviolet light on human skin. J. clin. Invest. 32, 681–689 (1953).
Rottier, P. B., Mullink, J. A. M.: Localisation of erythemal processes caused by ultraviolet light in human skin. Nature (Lond.) 170, 574–575 (1952).
Weiner, J. S.: A spectrophotometer for measurement of skin colour. Man 51, 152–153 (1951).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kalla, A.K. Parent-child relationship and sex differences in skin tanning potential in man. Hum Genet 15, 39–43 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00273430
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00273430