Presidents of 'THE INDIAN SOCIETY OF HUMAN GENETICS'
Dr. J.S. Murty, Ph.D - 1993-96
Coming from the
background of statistics, Dr. Murty's entry into the field of human
genetics was by circumstance. After teaching population genetics and
quantitative genetics for some years in the Department of Genetics,
Osmania University, he took to human genetics in the seventies. His
contributions in the field include inheritance studies on eye diseases
and on traits like finger length, microcephaly and dermatoglyphics;
blood group compatibility, inbreeding and genetic loads; genetic and
epidemiological aspects of intra-uterine growth retardation and duodenal
ulcers; genetic polymorphisms and disease association; genetic diversity
among tribal populations of Andhra Pradesh and mapping if a gene for
cataract. His studies on inbreeding brought out the important role of
population structure and gene - environment interaction in the
expression of genetic load and his studies on population structure bring
out the role of migration and non-neutral alleles in the maintenance of
protein and enzyme polymorphisms in tribal populations. On genetics of
diseases, association of HP locus with retinal detachment. a new type of
zonular cataract with sutural opacities, a new gene has been mapped to
17q 11-12 and Association of heterozygotes of the pepsinogen enzyme with
duodenal ulcers are important contributions.
Early in his career, Prof. Murty has made significant contributions in
the field of statistics especially on the design and analysis of
experiments with mixtures, construction of some types of incomplete
block designs and on the use of compound probability distributions in
analysis of experimental mutagenesis.
Known as an experienced teacher of population genetics and related
aspects of human genetics in a conventional university in India, Prof.
Murty is the author of over 70 research papers and edited a book
entitled " Genetic studies in India - Impact of Haldane". He
also taught in Algeria on a Govt.of India deputation.
Prof. Murty has been a member of several scientific societies in India
and abroad but is virtually devoted to only one - the Indian Society of
Human Genetics. Elected twice to the Governing Council. He was its Vice
President during 1991-92 and President from 1993. He has been editing
its News Letters the Bulletin of Human Genetis from 1987 and is
responsible for upgrading it into a full fledged Journal in 1995 : The
Indian Journal of Human Genetis giving it an International character. He
is also a Member of the Permanent Committee of International Congress of
Human Genetics, 1991-96
