Similarities in anthropometrical traits of children and their parents in a Bulgarian population.

A study has been made of 36 body and 11 craniofacial measurements in a selected sample of 251 Bulgarian families, comprising parents and their children over 15 years. The mid parent-offspring and correlation coefficients indicate that the extent of genetic determination varies considerably from one measurement to another. There is an evidence of directional dominance for three body traits and for two craniofacial traits. None of the different parent-offspring correlations is compatible with X-linked inheritance. A greater maternal than paternal influence is evident for biacromial diameter but a greater paternal influence is seen for head height, nose height and for ear height and breadth.