DOCUMENT RESUME ED 063 980 RC 006 143 TITLE Biomedical Challenges Presented by the American Indiah, Proceedings of the Special Session of the PAHO Advisory Committee on Medical Research (7th, Washington, D.C., June 25, 1968). INSTITUTION Pan American Health Organization, Washington, D. C. REPORT NO Sci-Pub-165 PUB DATE Sep 68 NOTE 188p. EDRS PRICE MF-$0.65 HC-$6.58 DESCRIPTORS *American Indians; Anthropology; Biochemistry; *Biological Influences; Conference Reports; *Genetics; *Health; *Human Geography; Tables (Data) ABSTRACT At each meeting of the Pan American Health Organization Advisory Committee on Medical Research, a special 1-day session is held on a topic chosen by the committee as being of particular interest. At the 7th meeting, which convened in June of 1969 in Washington, D.C., the session surveyed the origin, present iistribvtion, and principal bioJogical and medical issues of the American Indian--including the Lroblems of newly contacted Indian groups and those of groups well along in transition. Recorded in this volume are the following papers and ensuing discussions:(1) The Origin and Dispersion of American Indians in North America; (2) Theses for Meditation on the Orijin and Dispersion of Man in South America;(3) Biological Subdivisions of the Indian on the Basis of Physical Anthropology;(4) Biological Subdivisions of the Indian on the Basis of Genetic Traits;(5) The American Indian in the International Biological Program; (6) Survey of the Unacculturated Indians of Central and South America; (7) Medical Problems of Newly Contacted Indian Groups;(8) The Problem of Gallbladder Disease among Pima Inlians;(9) Hyperglycemia in Pima Indians;(10) Malaria in the American Indian;(11) Food and Nutrition of the Maya Before the Conquest and at the Present Time;(12) Iodine Deficiency Without Goiter in Isolated Yanomama Indians; and (13) Study of Endemic Goiter in the American Indian.(Author/LS) BIOMEDICAL CHALLENGES PRESENTED BY THE AMERICAN INDIAN F roceedings of the Special Session held during the Seventh Meeting of the PAHO Advisory Committee on Medical Research 25 June 1968 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION WELFARE OFFICE OF EDUCATION THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN REPRO- DUCED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED FROM (HE PERSON OR ORGANIZATION ORIG- INATING IT. POINTS OF VIEW OR OPIN- IONS STATED DO NOT NECESSARILY ,RORESENT OFFICIAL OFFICE OF EDU- CAT)ON POSITION OR POLICY. Scientific Publication No. 165 September 1968 PAN AMERICAN HEALTH ORGANIZATION Pan American Sanitary Bureau, Regional Office of the WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION 525 Twenty-third Street, N.W. Washington, D.C., 20037 NOTE At each meeting of the Pan American Health Organization Advisory Committee on Medical Research,a special onezy session is held on a topic chosen by the Committee as being of particular interest. At the Seventh Meeting, which convened in lune 1968 in Washington, D.C., the' session surveyed the origin, present distribution, and principal biological subdivisions of the American Indian and considered the specific scientific and medical issues calling for clarification, including the problems ofnewly contacted Indian groups and those of groups well along in transition. This volume records the papers presented and the ensuing discussions. PAHO ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON MEDICAL RESEARCH Dr. Herr& Alessandri Dr. Alberto Hurtado Ex-Decano, Facultad de Medicina Rector, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia Universidad de Chile Limq, Perti Santiago, Chile Dr. Otto G. Bier Dr. Walsh McDermott Diretor, Departamento de Microbiologia e Imu- Chairman, Department of Public Health nologia Cornell University Medical College Escola Pau lista de Medicina New York, New York, J S.A. São Paulo, Brasil Dr. James V. Neel Dr. Roberto Caldeyro-Barcia Chairman, Department of Human Genetics Jefe, Departamento de Fisiopatologia University of Michigan Medical School Facultad de Medicina Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S.A. Universidad de la RepUblica Montevideo, Uruguay Dr. Marcel Roche ( Vice-Chairman) Dr. Crtr los Chagas Director, Instituto Venezolano de Investigacio- Chief, Brazilian Delegat ion to UNESCO nes Cientificas Paris, France Caracas, Venezuela Dr. Philip P. Cohen Chairman, Department of Physiologicri Chemis- Dr. James A. Shannon try Director, National Institutes of Health The University of Wisconsin Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.A. K-?dison, Wisconsin, U.S.A. Dr. Rene Dubos (Chairman) Dr. John C. Waterlow Member and Professor Director, Tropical Metabolism Research Unit The Rockefeller University University of the West Indies New York, New York, U.S.A. King:-.ton, Jamaica Dr Hermon E. Hilleboe Director, Division of Public He5ith Practice Profe' sor Abel Wolman School of Public Health and Administrative Emeritus Professor of Sanitary Engineering and Mcdicine Water Resources Columbia University The Johns Hopkins University New York, New York, U.S.A. Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A. Dr. Bernard, Houssay Director, Instituto de Biologfa y Medicina ;Ex- Dr. Salvador Zubirain perimental Director, Instituto Nacional de la Nutrición Buenos Aires, Argentina Mexico, D.F., Mexico Dr. Mauricio Martins da Silva, Secretary Chief, Office of Research Coordination Pan American Health Organization Washington, D.C., U.S.A. PAN AMERICAN HEALTH ORGANIZATION Pan American Sanitary Bureau Dr. Abraham Horwit7,, Director Special Session on INDIAN BIOMEDICAL CHALLENGESPRESENTED BY THE AMERICAN Moderator: Dr. James V.Neel PARTICIPANTS Dr. James B. Griffin Dr. Tulio Arends Museum of Anthropology Hematologia Experimental Instituto Venezolano deInvestigacionesCien- The University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S.A. tificas Caracas, Venezuela Dr. William S. Laughlin Dr. Jose Barzdatto Department of Anthropology Hospital del Salvador The University of Wisconsin Universidad de Chile Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.A. Santiago, Chile Dr. Moises Behar Dr. Miguel A. Layrisse Instituto de Nutrición deCentro America y SecciOn de Fisiopatologia Investigaciones Cien- Panamá nstituto Venezolano de Guatemala, Guatemala tificas Caracas, Venezuela Dr. Thomas A. Burch Clinical Field Studies Unit Dr. Ruben Lisker National Institute of Arthritis andMetabolic Instituto Nacional de la Nutrición Diseases Mexico, D.F., Mexico Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.A. Dr. William Centerwall Dr. Max Miller D Tartment of Human Genetics Depanment of Medicine The University of Michigan Western Reserve University Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S.A. Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A. Dr. Napoleon A. Chagnon Department of Anthropology Dr. Jerry D. Niswander Human Genetics Branch The University of Michigan National Institute of Dental Health Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S.A. Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.A. Dr. Juan Comas * Sección de Antropologia Dr. Noel Nutels Instituto de Investigaciones Históricas Serviço Nacional de Tuberculose Universidad Nacional Autónoma de WY iCo Ministerio de Saiide Mexico, D.F., Mexico Rio de Janeiro, Brasil Dr. Edmundo Covamibias Dr. Marcel Roche Departamento de Genetica Investigaciones Cien- Facultad de Medicina kstituto Venezolano de Universidad de Chile tificas Santiago, Chile Caracas, Venezuela Dr. Jose M. Cruxent Dr. Francisco M. Salzano Sección de Antropologia Departamento de Genitica Instituto Venezolano de InvestigacionesCien- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul tificas Pôrto Alegre, Brasil Caracas, Venezuela Dr. George Giglio li Dr. William J. Schull Malaria Laboratory Department of Human Genetics Ministry of Health The University of Michigan Georgetown, Guyana Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S.A. Unable to attend. iv CONTENTS Opening Statementlames V. Ned 1 The a igin and Dispersion of American Indians in North America James B. Griffin 2 Theses for Meditation on the Origin and Dispersion of Man in South AmericaJose M. Cruxent 11 riscussion William S. Laughlin 17 General Discussion 19 Biological Subdivisions of the Indian on the Basis of Physical AnthropologyJuan Comas 22 Biological Subdivisions of the Indian on the Basis of Genetic TraitsMiguel Layrisse 35 Discussion Tulio Arends 40 Ruben LiAer 43 General Discussion 46 The American Indian in the International Biological Program fames 17 Ned 47 Discussion 55 Survey of the Unaccultufated Indians of Central and South AmericaFrancisco M. Salzono 59 Discussion 67 Medical Problems of Newly Contacted Indian Gro,..psNoel ZVutds 68 Discussion Willard R. Centerwall: A Recent Experience with Measles in a "Virgin-Soil" Population 77 General Discussion 80 The Problem of Gallbladder Disease among Pima IndiansThomas A. Burch, Leonard 1. Comets, and Peter H. Bennett 82 Hyperglycemia in Pima Indians: A Preliminary Appraisal of Its Significana Max Miller, Peter W. Bennett, and Thomas A. Burch 89 Malaria in the American IndianGeorge G. Giglioli 104 Food and Nutrition of the Maya Before the Conquest and at the Present Time Moises Behar 114 Iodine Deficiency Without Goiter in Isolated - Yanomama Indians: Preliminary Note René Ritnere, Dominique Comar, Mentech Colonomas, Jean Desenne, and Marcel Roche 120 Study of 7I:ndemic Goiter in the American Indian José Barzelatto and Edumundo Couarrubias 124 Discussion 1. D. Nistvander 133 Edtnundo Covarrublas 136 General Discussion 137 Appendix: Tabulations of Phenotype and Gene Frequencies for 11 Different Genetiz Systems Studied in the American IndianR. H. Post, J. V. Ned, and W. I. Schull 141 vi OPENING STATEMENT James V. Neel, Moderator The American Indian continues today, as he Further, it begins to appear as if once that has ever since the discovery of the Americas, totransition is accomplished the Indian may pre- present a wide variety of questions and chal- sentsomeratherspecialdiseaseproblems,