5(d) Anthropometry in ergonomics.
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper I > Applications of Anthropology > Ergonomics > Anthropometry
Canalization and Catch-up Growth — 2026 Paper I
Question · 2026 · Paper I · 10 Marks
Canalization and catch-up growth.
Model Answer
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Model Answer
Introduction: Human growth is genetically regulated but environmentally responsive. Canalization expresses developmental stability, 
whereas catch-up growth demonstrates regulated plasticity after growth has been temporarily inhibited.
Canalization: C. H. Waddington (1942) used the term for the tendency of development to follow a relatively stable pathway despite moderate genetic or environmental disturbance. His “epigenetic landscape” metaphor depicts development moving within channels. In human auxology, J. M. Tanner’s observation that healthy children generally track a growth centile illustrates this relative stability.
Catch-up growth: Prader, Tanner and von Harnack (1963) described catch-up growth as growth velocity above that expected for age after removal of an inhibitory factor such as malnutrition, chronic infection or endocrine disturbance. The child may move back toward the earlier growth trajectory.
| Normal channel → growth insult → reduced growth velocity → recovery → temporary acceleration → earlier channel |
Catch-up is not always complete. Its extent depends on age at insult, severity and duration of deprivation, nutritional rehabilitation, endocrine status, chronic disease and whether a sensitive developmental period has been crossed. Severe or prolonged early-life deprivation may leave permanent stunting.
Conclusion: Canalization represents developmental buffering; catch-up growth represents compensatory plasticity. Together they show that human growth follows a regulated trajectory without being rigidly genetically predetermined.
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UPSC Anthropology Optional 2026 — Paper I
28 questionsSyllabus: Paper I > Culture and Personality > Basic personality structure > National character
1(b) Canalization and catch-up growth.
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper I > Human Growth and Development > Growth patterns > Canalization and catch-up growth
Syllabus: Paper I > Human Genetics > Mendelian inheritance in man > Pedigree analysis
8(a) Compare Edmund Leach's structuralism with interpretive anthropology of Clifford Geertz.
20 Marks
Syllabus: Paper I > Anthropological Theories > Structuralism and interpretive anthropology > Leach and Geertz
5(a) Ethics in anthropological fieldwork.
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper I > Research Methods > Fieldwork > Ethics in fieldwork
1(e) Ethnoarchaeology and classical archaeology.
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper I > Archaeological Anthropology > Approaches > Ethnoarchaeology and classical archaeology
5(c) Feminist movement and family.
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper I > Family > Contemporary trends > Feminist movement and family
Syllabus: Paper I > Human Biology > Demography > Fertility and mortality
1(d) Genetic polymorphism and natural selection.
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper I > Human Genetics > Genetic polymorphism > Natural selection
1(a) Health as a cultural construct.
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper I > Applications of Anthropology > Medical Anthropology > Culture and health
Syllabus: Paper I > Human Evolution > Biological and cultural factors > Biocultural evolution
4(b) Discuss 'incest taboo' as the basis of development of kinship systems in human societies.
15 Marks
Syllabus: Paper I > Kinship > Incest taboo > Development of kinship systems
Syllabus: Paper I > Anthropological Theories > Neo-evolutionism > Leslie White and culturology
Syllabus: Paper I > Palaeolithic Cultures > Upper Palaeolithic > Magdalenian tradition
Syllabus: Paper I > Research Methods > Methodology > Mixed methods
1(c) Myth as oral literature.
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper I > Religion, Myth and Ritual > Myth > Myth as oral literature
5(b) Distinguishing features of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA.
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper I > Human Genetics > DNA > Nuclear and mitochondrial DNA
Syllabus: Paper I > Human Genetics > Chromosomal aberrations > Numerical aberrations
Syllabus: Paper I > Palaeolithic Cultures > Distribution > Himalayan and Sub-Himalayan sites
Syllabus: Paper I > Fossil Hominids > Australopithecines > Paranthropus
Syllabus: Paper I > Political Organization and Social Control > Power and authority > Change with political organization
Syllabus: Paper I > Religion > Functions of religion > Cultural adaptation to environment
Syllabus: Paper I > Human Genetics > Applied genetics > Serogenetics, cytogenetics and reproductive technology
Syllabus: Paper I > Applications of Anthropology > Sports Anthropology > Somatotyping and the Heath-Carter method
Syllabus: Paper I > Primatology > Primate taxonomy > Strepsirhini and Haplorhini
2(c) How is the theory of structuralism helpful in understanding the concepts of caste and gender?
15 Marks
Syllabus: Paper I > Anthropological Theories > Structuralism > Application to caste and gender
5(e) Thermoluminescence dating method.
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper I > Archaeological Anthropology > Dating methods > Thermoluminescence