The Internet Journal of Biological Anthropology was established as the first online journal in the field in the month of July 2007 ₁ . The inaugural issue of the journal (2007, Vol. 1, No. 1) exemplifies the goals set forth by the editorial board. Since its inception, I have received huge response in terms of the number of articles from across the world. All the articles are peer reviewed and the editorial board has selected only those articles which have some international value.

The main objective of this new journal is to promote for the public benefit the advancement of education, research and knowledge in the field of biological anthropology. The Internet Journal of Biological Anthropology provides an international forum for publication of original articles, reviews and correspondence on subjects that cover practical and theoretical areas of interest relating to the wide range of Biological/Physical anthropology. Subjects covered include Human Origins and Evolution, Pre-historic Archaeology, Human Biology, Human Genetics, Molecular and Biochemical Anthropology, Human Growth and Development, Nutritional Anthropology, Human Ecology, Skeletal and Forensic Anthropology, Primatology, Primate and Human Behavior, Dental Anthropology, Sports Anthropology, Anthropometry, Health, Disease and Demography, Clinical and Medical Anthropology, Epidemiology, Community Health, Neuroanthropology, Population Genetics and Paleopathology. Submissions dealing with the general concept, theory, methods and ethics in anthropology having bearing on biological anthropology are also acceptable. Letters to the editor that relate to manuscripts published recently in the journal or comment on any aspects of the Journal are welcomed.

Like most international and peer reviewed journals, The Internet Journal of Biological Anthropology is run by professional editorial board with valued input from renowned experts in the field. We very much appreciate the advice and support provided by the members of our editorial board as we move forward with this exciting new endeavor.

I am pleased to inform that the journal is now covered/indexed by Google Scholar, SOCOLAR, EBSCO, DMOZ (Open directory project), IMSEAR (WHO Global Index Medicus), DOAJ, SCIRUS, Ulrich's Periodical Directory, Global Health CAB Abstracts, Academic Search Premier. In the next few years, we are looking forward for indexing in Pubmed/Medline.

The second issue of The Internet Journal of Biological Anthropology publishes wide variety of manuscripts covering many aspects of Biological Anthropology. This issue has 19 manuscripts including 8 original articles, 5 review articles, 3 technical notes and 3 case reports. The issue begins with an original study by Rose Taylor-Weale and Lucio Vinicius of University of Cambridge, U.K. who investigated the role of two competing ecological pressures-climate and life history in hunter-gatherer anthropometrics ₂ . The second paper by Jervas Ekezie and Barnabas Danborno of College of Medicine and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria describes the spousal differences and similarities in physical and cultural traits in a Nigerian population ₃ . Other original study by Michael W. Pendleton and Bonnie B. Pendleton of Texas A&M University presents evidence for the possible ritual or psychotropic use of Acacia flowers prior to abandonment of a prehistoric Mimbres-Mogollon archeological site ₄ . Another paper by G. Kuhn, Ph. Gruber, R. Müller and F. Rühli of University of Zurich, Switzerland provides three-dimensional evaluation of structures by Micro Computerized Tomography in analysing tail vertebra of autotomizing lizards ₅ . The fifth study by J.S. Thakur, Sutapa Bandyopadhyay and Kamlesh P Joshi of Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India discusses the role of Anti Tobacco Volunteers as a part of Tobacco Control Strategy in a Tertiary Care Hospital ₆ . The sixth original study by Barnabas Danborno, Samuel S. Adebisi, Alexander B. Adelaiye and Samuel A. Ojo of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria describes Sexual Dimorphism and Relationship between Chest, Hip and Waist Circumference with 2D, 4D and 2D:4D in a Nigerian population ₇ . Another study by Shyamal Koley of Department of Sports Medicine and Physiotherapy, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, India shows the reaction patterns of the anti-LH lectin and leucocytes in patients with diabetes mellitus ₈ . The last original study by Kaushik Bose, Samiran Bisai, Falguni Chakraborty, Argina Khatun and Hiranmoy Bauri compares data on body composition of two tribal populations of Keonjhar, Orissa, India ₉ .

As we move forward, R.S. Balgir of Division of Human Genetics, Regional Medical Research Center (ICMR), Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India reviews and discusses epidemiology, population genetics and phenotypic diversity of sickle cell disease in the light of recent findings in India ₁₀ . Mahua Sengupta of Biological Anthropology Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata, India gives distribution and present situation of thalassemia among various tribal communities inhabited in the different parts of India critically analyze whether the strategies adopted for the control of thalassemia in India, are feasible for tribal population also ₁₁ . Abhik Ghosh of Anthropology Department, Panjab University, India reviews various prehistoric sites of the entire Chotanagpur region, India. This paper is a first part of the series and other parts will appear in subsequent issues of the journal ₁₂ . Vikas Gautam, Shashank Shekhar, D.R. Arora and B. Arora, Microbiologists from Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India and other associated institutes discuss the use of biological weapons in historical context as well as in modern times and describes various preventive measures and diagnostic techniques ₁₃ . John Mao, an anthropologist from Chandigarh, India describes the practice of foot binding-a ritual performed in respect to the Chinese culture ₁₄ .

Under technical notes, the first paper by Balwant Rai, a forensic odontologist from India describes how a dental root can be used for estimating age of the person ₁₅ . In another study, Balwant Rai and S.C. Anand, odontologists from India successfully tried to estimate age in children from dental radiograph by regression method ₁₆ . Other study by Balwant Rai investigates the relationship between the stage of calcification of various teeth and skeletal maturity stages ₁₇ .

There are three case reports by Satheesha Nayak of Melaka Manipal Medical College (Manipal Campus), Karnataka, India. The first paper reports a rare case of incomplete occipitalization of the atlas vertebra ₁₈ . The second paper reports partial obstruction of jugular foramen by abnormal bone growth at jugular fossa in skull ₁₉ . The last paper of this issue reports presence of accessory renal artery and kinking of aorta due to the abnormal origin of renal arteries ₂₀ .

I am thankful to all the members of the editorial board and other outside experts who critically reviewed the manuscripts for this issue. We hope you enjoy reading this issue of new discoveries and up-to-date reviews. Please do E-mail me (gargkk@yahoo.com) your questions, queries, comments and pre-submission enquiries.