AboutZavier Expertise Physical and biological anthropology, paleoanthropology, osteology, human evolution, prehistoric fauna, primate evolution, primate ecology/biology as well as some expertise in zoology (specifically big cats) and paleontology (post Cretaceous to Holocene knowledge of prehistoric fauna).
I do not answer questions that do not relate to anything mentioned above (this includes questions regarding libraries, technology, and history, just to name a few that I have been receiving).
Experience Teacher Assistant at University of Toronto for first and second year Anthropology courses. Will be doing field work in France, Germany and Portugal on assessing various characteristics of Neanderthal populations.
Organizations Snow Leopard Trust
Education/Credentials Graduate student- BSc in Biological Anthropology and Health studies.
Question Hi, I'm not sure if you're the right person to ask, sorry if not! Both my daughters (aged seven and two), have an epicanthal fold on their eyes. They are both very fair skinned and have fair hair and blue eyes. I am adopted. Neither I nor their father have epicanthal folds. Does this mean they have asian roots somewhere? Someone told me only Asians have epicanthal folds, or people with Asian heritage. Is this accurate? Thanks for any help you can offer,
Kate.
Answer Hi Kate,
Although epicanthic folds are most common amongst groups of East Asian or Southeast Asian descent and those peoples genetically linked to Asia, this trait is not ethnically-unique. It occurs in other groups as well. Moreover, the fold is a normal feature and develops in the womb for every human and some children lose it by birth. In some cases, however, children of any ethnic origin can retain this trait into childhood before the bridge of the nose begins to elevate. It can fade away to some extent during adolescent development.
Rarely, this trait is associated with certain genetic and congenital conditions such as Down's syndrome or fetal alcohol syndrome.
