L'hématologie: Une discipline majeure dans l'histoire de l'anthropologie biologique et de la génétique des populations

Abstract

Initially based on a purely physical approach, biological anthropology has benefited from insights in biology and medicine at the beginning of the 20th century, especially regarding hematology. The discovery of blood groups and their study using serology, the invention of electrophoresis (applied to red cell or plasma proteins), and the description of the HLA system opened new avenues in the exploration of human variability. From the 1980s, DNA is directly investigated by means of molecular biology techniques. The malaria-related selective pressure explains the various abnormalities of the erythrocytes encountered in endemic zones. Several genetic blood disorders represent interesting tools for population history reconstitution. Correlations between hematological characters and historical or cultural elements have been made. The common history of hematology and anthropology included several key individuals. It provides a picture of evolution of ideas and techniques during a century and supports the value of pluridisciplinary approaches. © 2010 Société d'anthropologie de Paris et Springer-Verlag France.