U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Library & Multimedia
 Refining Asian Ancestry Classifications via Cranial Macromorphoscopic Traits
NCJ Number
              253372
Journal

*American Journal of Physical Anthropology* Volume: 165 Dated: 2018 Pages: 210-210
Author(s)
          Amber M. Plemons;
                        Joseph T. Hefner;
                        Kelly R. Kamnikar
Date Published

2018
Length
              1 page
Annotation
              This study examined biological distance via cranial morphology between Native American (NA), Eskimo, and several Southeast Asian populations.
Abstract
              Forensic anthropologists frequently use 3-group classification models for ancestry estimation; however, delineation of 'Asian' classification is complex, due to human migration patterns and greater variation within these groups, who represent various geographic origins. These groups include mainland Asians, Pacific Islanders, Native Americans, Eskimos, and Hispanics. The current study explored potential refinement of Asian ancestry classifications based on cranial macromorphoscopic traits. The Macromorphoscopic Databank (MaMD) is data repository for cranial macromorphoscopic traits for use with bioarchaeological and forensic human skeletal remains. Canonical Analysis of the Principal Coordinates (CAP) using the chi-square distance metric was used to compare NA, Eskimo, and Asian individuals through canonical and discriminant analysis. Classification accuracies ranged from 83.8 percent (Asian) to 31.6 percent (Eskimo). Previous research has strongly correlated biodistance and geographic barriers; therefore, the current study tested within the NA sample using a pooled sample identifying seven geographic regions. The highest classification accuracies were for the Southeastern sample (58 percent) followed by the Midwest (52 percent). Finally, the study compared several finer levels of resolution to determine the effectiveness of these geographic parameters. Aleut (71.9 percent) had the highest classification, followed by Arikara (60 percent), and Pueblo (59.65 percent). Biodistance analysis will be presented to demonstrated group relatedness for each phase of analysis. These results highlight difficulties distinguishing between groups broadly classified as Asian (Asian/NA/Eskimo), although increased classification rates are possible on a more refined level. Biological distances indicate these traditional 3-group systems of classification are outmoded and require further refinement. (publisher abstract modified)
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        2015-DN-BX-K012


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Report (Study/Research)
                                Report (Grant Sponsored)
                                Program/Project Description


  
  
        
  Award
        A Macromorphoscopic Databank: Establishing the Statistical Analysis of Macromorphoscopic Data in Forensic Anthropology
    
  
  
Date Published: January 1, 2018
    
          Downloads
        
                      HTML

Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              NIJ Journal
    
      
            
            
            
      Podcasts
    
      
            
            
            
      Publications Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Multimedia Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Software & Databases
    
      
            
            
            
      Datasets
    
      
            
            
            
      PatentsRelated Topics
        
                Alaska Natives
        American Indians
        Ancestral DNA
        Ancestry assessment
        Asian



  
Similar Publications
        
                      A Novel Two-Step Method for the Detection of Organic Gunshot Residue for Forensic Purposes: Fast Fluorescence Imaging Followed by Raman Microspectroscopic Identification
                  An Analysis of Single and Multi-Copy Methods for DNA Analysis by Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
                  Changes in Dry State Hemoglobin Over Time Do Not Increase the Potential for Oxidative Damage in Dried Blood
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov