Previous study revealed that musculoskeletal stress markers (MSMs) advance according to age and that the differences in MSMs between groups also arise in association with the intensity of ante-mortem activity. This study investigated the expression of 15 MSMs in the prehistoric Jomon period groups (Hokkaido, Ebishima, Ubayama, Yoshigo and Tsukumo) and Yayoi period groups (North Kyushu, Doigahama and Tanegashima), and examined their regional diversity and differences between the Jomon and Yayoi period. In the Jomon period people, Kruskal-Wallis tests found that many MSMs had significant inter-group differences in both sexes. Mean MSM scores of the Hokkaido group were especially high and principal component analysis (PCA) showed that males from Hokkaido were plotted at an isolated position from those of other Jomon groups (Ebishima, Uba­yama, Yoshigo and Tsukumo) in Honshu. Mann-Whitney tests between the Yayoi and Jomon groups showed that North Kyushu and Doigahama had significant differences in many MSMs whereas Tanegashima had differences in only a few cases. A scatter diagram of PCA indicated configuration in each Yayoi group as follows: 1) North Kyushu was considerably separated from the Jomon groups; 2) Doigahama was placed at an intermediate position between both groups; and 3) Tanegashima was close to the plotting area of the Jomon groups. These findings suggest that: 1) In the Jomon period people, differences of occupational activity based on utilized natural resources between Hokkaido and Honshu affected the pattern of MSM expression; and 2) In the Yayoi period people, the MSM pattern of paddy rice farmers in North Kyushu was different from that of people engaging in hunting and fishing.

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The authors investigated radiocarbon ages and carbon and nitrogen isotopes in human skeletal remains excavated from the Koh and Ikawazu sites in Osaka and Aichi Prefectures, respectively. Based on excavated pottery and tooth ablation patterns, the Koh population has been regarded as belonging to the Early and Final Jomon Periods. Radiocarbon dating was conducted on Koh skeletal remains to test this age assignment. Koh and Ikawazu human skeletal samples of the Final Jomon Period were analyzed to test the hypothesis that tooth ablation patterns were associated with diet during the period. Collagen was extracted from 28 Koh and 6 Ikawazu bone samples, and was found to be well-preserved in 14 and 4, respectively. Based on results of radiocarbon dating, Koh samples dated to 5440–5990 cal BP, 4410–4520 cal BP, and 2960–3070 cal BP, while Ikawazu samples dated to 2440–3070 cal BP. Among the Koh samples, dietary change was found to be associated to the period. Remains from the Early Jomon Period had higher nitrogen isotope ratios than those from the Final Jomon Period. The Ikawazu samples suggested that those individuals were more dependent on marine resources. The diet of individuals with type 4I and 2C tooth ablation patterns was not significantly different between the Koh and Ikawazu populations. These results suggest that radiocarbon dating of human skeletal remains is essential for proper assessment of dietary reconstruction and temporal patterns in diet.

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The Holocene mammal remains were discovered from Anaiwa-no-ana Cave that is located in Nishiyamakou, Sakawa Town, Takaoka County, Kochi Prefecture, Southwestern Japan. The mammalian assemblage includes four isolated human teeth, some of which are worn strongly like Jomon people. All of the other mammals, such as deer and wild boars, are composed of extant species, without extinct species. Accelerator Mass Spectrometry ¹⁴C dating based on the Japanese macaque and deer bones indicated the Initial Jomon Period (8278 ± 29 yBP and 9499 ± 31 yBP, respectively) for the mammal assemblage from Anaiwa-no-ana Cave. These dates are supported by co-yielding flakes of chert and a freshwater bivalve shell with the mammal assemblage. Anaiwa-no-ana Cave was potentially used by people in the Initial Jomon Period, as neighboring Fudo-ga-iwaya and Shirono-dai Cave Sites.

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[in Japanese]

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Although the Mendelian inheritance previously learned in high school is currently studied in junior high school in the new education course, only one gene crossing is treated and neither a test cross nor special heredity is treated. In the “Basic Biology” which 90% or more of students study in early high school year, the contents are shifted from the old course of the Mendelian genetics to molecular biology. Therefore, recent students have opportunities to learn the foundation of DNA, chromosomes, revelation of genes, and human genome. In the “Biology” which about 20% of students study as an elective subject, it is supposed that themes, such as control of generating with a gene, and chromosomes and gene and totipotency, are included. In the process of teaching from foundation to application of molecular biology, we are able to touch on DNA and biotechnology, human chromosome and the gene of illness, the problems about childbirth, the problems of gene discrimination and information control. At the same time, in addition to knowledge, teachers need to develop the judgment capability of students in ethics, etc.

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In the last decade, advances in technologies for nucleic acid analysis successfully reduced costs and times required for human genome sequencing. As the full picture of our genome has emerged, surprising findings on human biology and evolution have been accumulated. Moreover, the application of genome diversity information is going to be launched especially in the fields of medicine. However, in Japan, contents of human genetics are still scarce in the secondary education. In the response to the current situation, a recommendation for the enrichment of human genetics education was made by academic societies including the Anthropological Societies of Nippon. Anthropology has long history of researches in the genetic basis of non-disease traits and evolution of humans and therefore will play an important role in the enrichment of human genetics education. The present paper introduces topics of anthropology that can be used in the education programs of human genetics.

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