Q3(c). Differentiate between pedigree and genealogical analyses. Discuss the history and application of these methods in anthropological studies. (15 M)

Introduction:

Pedigree analysis, defined as the systematic tracing of biological inheritance across generations, emerged within genetics. Francis Galton (1883, Inquiries into Human Faculty and Its Development) pioneered this method to study hereditary genius, and later it was refined in the context of Mendelian genetics by R.A. Fisher (1918, The Correlation Between Relatives on the Supposition of Mendelian Inheritance). Genealogical analysis, on the other hand, was introduced into anthropology by W.H.R. Rivers (1906, The Todas), who defined it as a fieldwork technique to record socially recognized kinship ties, descent, and marriage relations.

Body:

History of Pedigree and Genealogical Analyses

1. Pedigree Analysis – Biological/Medical Roots

• •19th century origins: Developed in biology and medicine to trace hereditary disorders (e.g., haemophilia in the British royal family).
• •1900s–1930s: Adopted by physical anthropologists like Ales Hrdlička for studying heredity and human variation.
• •Mid-20th century: Systematised in human genetics for tracing blood groups, sickle-cell anaemia, thalassemia. Paul T. Baker used pedigree data to study consanguinity.
• •Late 20th century: Pedigree analysis merged with molecular genetics, used in population anthropology to study genetic adaptation in tribes (e.g., ABO blood groups in Indian castes).
• •Contemporary use: Applied in medical anthropology to explore how consanguineous marriages in South India contribute to autosomal recessive disorders.

2. Genealogical Analysis – Cultural Roots

• •1898 – W.H.R. Rivers’ Genealogical Method: First systematised during the Cambridge Expedition to the Torres Straits. Rivers devised genealogical charts to record kinship ties, descent, and marriage rules.
• •Early 20th century functionalism: Radcliffe-Brown used genealogies to reconstruct descent groups in Africa; Malinowski applied them to trace matrilineal descent and land inheritance among Trobrianders.
• •1940s–1960s structuralism and alliance theory: Claude Lévi-Strauss used genealogical data to formulate alliance theory, studying exchange of women between lineages.
• •Indian ethnography: S.C. Roy documented Oraon genealogies; Irawati Karve in Maharashtra villages used genealogical mapping to study exogamy and kinship circles.
• •Contemporary use: Genealogies applied to land rights disputes, tracing community history, and even political mobilisation of tribes (who use clan genealogy to claim Scheduled Tribe status).

Applications in Anthropological Studies

Pedigree Analysis

• 1.Medical Genetics: Understanding inheritance of haemophilia, thalassemia, sickle-cell trait.
• 2.Population Variation: Used in Indian anthropology to trace endogamy in castes and tribes.
• 3.Consanguinity Studies: In South India, pedigree analysis reveals increased autosomal recessive disorders due to cross-cousin marriages.
• 4.Applied Health Anthropology: Helps in genetic counselling and public health interventions in tribal regions.

Genealogical Analysis

• 1.Kinship and Descent: Mapping patrilineal, matrilineal, or double descent groups.
• 2.Marriage and Alliance: Used in testing alliance theory and studying preferential marriages (cross-cousin, uncle–niece).
• 3.Land Tenure and Inheritance: Genealogies establish rights over land and resources in tribal and peasant communities.
• 4.Tribal Studies: Used in reconstructing history, identity, and clan divisions (e.g., Naga, Garo, Oraon studies).
• 5.Applied Contexts: Used in courts, legal anthropology, and development projects to trace kinship rights.

Conclusion:

The comparison between pedigree analysis and genealogical analysis highlights the dual nature of anthropological inquiry — biology and culture. While pedigree analysis traces genetic inheritance and adaptability, genealogical analysis uncovers the social and cultural dimensions of kinship and descent. Each method has its own scope, but together they provide a biocultural synthesis essential for understanding human variation in both biological and social terms.