Szekessy Vilmos (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 60. (Budapest 1968)

Dezső, Gy.: The frequency of eye and hair colours in some Hungarian populations

The Frequency of Eye and Hair Colours in some Hungarian Populations By GY. DEZSŐ, Budapest The colour of the eye and hair, that is, their pigment content is characteristic of both the individual and the population. It is a feature deemed significant from a taxonomical point of view. Today, a knowledge of the normal characteristics of populations has an importance beyond that concernin gtipology. By the ever increasing spreading of fission materials, the so-callad background radiation (VÁRTERESZ, 1965) shows an also increasing rate. This may lead not only to considerable genetical changes and mutations, but, in the case of polygenic features, as is also the colour complexion, we may anticipate the occurrence of finer modifications. This is why informations on the frequency and distribution of as much normal features as possible in the given populations are important. From Hungary, we have but a meagre amount of sporadic data available today. Notable investigations have been made by BARTUCZ (nationwide in character), MALÁN (the Székelys) NEMESKÉRI (in the village Ivád, the Hajdus), FARKAS & LIPTÁK (Orosháza), FARKAS (Comitat Csongrád). This latter is especially important, since it is representative of a larger area (2792 boys and 2421 girls). The present paper attempts to submit some data to our present day knowledge. Fig. 1. Localities of sampling In our investigations, samples have been taken from small towns (pop. 8000— —10,000) of five Hungarian territories, as well as from the Capital (representing a mixed population). Fig. 1 is indicative of the sampling localities.