The Biate Population of Saipung Village in Jaintia Hills, India : A Genetic Study

Population genetic studies among isolated populations are important as many of them are undergoing cultural disintegration due to increasing contact with more sophisticated peoples. Some aspects of the genetic markers of the Biate, an endemic tribe of India's remote north-eastern region, are presented in this volume. It strives to describe the genetic composition of the Biate population with the help of such markers as ABO and Rh (D) blood groups, PTC taste sensitivity and colour blindness. The findings are related to similar studies in neighbouring populations of Assam and Meghalaya in an effort to ascertain the phylogenetic position of the Biates. This study might be a reference for researchers interested in the population genetics of indigenous tribes in India's north eastern states.