Assortative mating for colour in Indian populations

Abstract

SummarySkin colour is measured at the inner upper arm and forehead by reflectance spectrophotometry in 310 Punjabi Hindu spouse pairs. It suggests genetic similarity of the two subcastes Khatri and Arora, of Punjabi Hindus, and that caste formation is essentially a social phenomenon. There is evidence of positive assortative mating with respect to skin colour.