Let's look again at the proportions of hand and foot to the face: In a male, the sole and palm are half the width of the face. 2006;96:19718. PubMed 1). Mary stays informed on cultural trends and dating practices to assist others in finding love and happiness. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. In terms of personal traits, Belgian women are known for their friendly and approachable nature. After the completion of the Human Genome Project in 2003, international efforts were initiated to map human genetic variation between populations. For visualization purposes, the other European populations are shown in gray. To address this, population-based whole genome sequencing initiatives have been performed at the national level throughout Europe [4,5,6,7]. This is the first study on the genetic structure of the Belgian population and its regional variation. PLoS One. Total variability captured by each PC is indicated by the axis labels. Personal characteristics of older primary care patients who provide a buccal swab for apolipoprotein E testing and banking of genetic material: the spectrum study. A principal component analysis demonstrated the typical European genetic constitution of the Belgian population, as compared to other continents. Note that some Native American types have an epicanthic fold (it's one of the factors that indicate they descend from Asian types) while others have more Western eyes with a strong outer fold. In terms of physical appearance, there is a general preference for a healthy and toned body, but not necessarily overly muscular. These filtering criteria resulted in a selection of 47,802 SNPs. Google Scholar. Barnangen Body . All other data (e.g., variant allele frequencies) generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article (and its supplementary information files). 2010;467:106173. Belgian Womens features, their personal characteristics and beauty standards are what you will find out as you continue reading. According to my observations, the majority of Eastern Europeans (Slavs) have facial features such as high cheekbones and deep-set almond-shaped eyes with colors ranging from green, and dark blue, to light or dark brown. A female's eyelashes are no longer prominent and her lips get thinner; a male's hairline recedes to a varying, but noticeable degree. Trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners. This diagram shows the difference face shapes we perceive (they are more subtle in reality): Surprisingly enough, the skull itself gives a clue as to ethnic origin, as its morphology varies across a spectrum. There's a range of unpredictable special effects that are not genetic and not shown here: rings around the pupil or iris, speckles, etc. Cite this article. Well, maybe they like and even need them, but easily disagree about the content. Therefore, linking genetic information to NHIS data has great potential for genome-wide association studies. If two proverbs had to be chosen to define commonly shared values of the Belgians, they would be: This is maybe why Belgian people dislike and distrust so much politicians. The central map of Belgium shows the geographical location of each province. Facial features of typical Belgian Woman: SD and JT performed the NHIS 2013 correlations. It has the purpose to assess the health status and its distribution in the population and to describe the association of this health status with its main determinants [11]. (PDF 5259 kb). . The eyebrows are thinner and neater while the lips are fuller and of a more contrasted colour; a male's eyebrows are lower over the eyes and thicker, following the general tendency of more hair on a male body. To understand these differences, lets examine how Belgian women compare to women from other Western European countries. In Downturned eyes, the eyelid curves down at the outer corner. Most of the European celebrities we see have large almond eyes, which look like cat eyes. Community Genet. Results from these studies will be an invaluable resource in the transition towards precision public health, focusing on subsets of the population at increased risk, rather than on the entire population. described a geographical map of Europe that arose naturally as an efficient PCA-based two-dimensional summary of genetic variation in European individuals from different countries (including 43 Belgians) [8]. Only one member per household was included, and the participants that did not complete the auto-questionnaire part of the NHIS in 2013 (which contains information on health, lifestyle, and environment), that were deceased, deregistered or with a discrepancy between self-reported and calculated age were excluded. This section offers general notes, as we are going to look at aging for the face and body, together, in great detail in a future session. No wonder both the EU and NATO have chosen Belgium for the headquarters. PubMed Central Public Health Genomics. In a female, the width is roughly the same proportion, but the foot is just longer than the face is high, and the hand is at most 3/4 of the same height. Many Belgians have an innate sense of leaderships. Women's lips are at their most fleshy, and men's facial hair are at their strongest; dark-haired men often have a shadow around the jaw even when theyre shaved. Article The eyes of a typical Belgian woman are also noteworthy. Especially if you are living in a particularly sunny or particularly cold country, your skin is put to the test every day. Belgian women also tend to have a more full-bodied figure, while French women are often considered to have a more slender and athletic build. (unless theres heavy exposure to sun and wind, Asian types are notoriously smooth-skinned to a relatively advanced age). Main origins from migrants are indicated by the arrows. Moorman PG, Skinner CS, Evans JP, Newman B, Sorenson JR, Calingaert B, Susswein L, Crankshaw TS, Hoyo C, Schildkraut JM. SNP variant allele frequencies of the Belgian population, BelPHG-21 study, Belgium 2016. This diversity in eye shape and color is a result of the countrys historical and cultural diversity. In summary, these data show minor but clear genetic differences between the different regions in Belgium with a north-west to south-east geographical correlation. However, these differences were smaller than with any other European population. Google Scholar. How much the inner corner is covered, and how pronounced the fold is on the outer corner, both vary. After a similar SNP filtering strategy as described above, the PC analysis was repeated using the European populations from the 1000 Genomes Project. Geographical structure and differential natural selection among North European populations. Bioinformatics. Barnangen Nutritive bodylotion. This diversity is also reflected in the personal qualities of its women. Subscribe below and well send you a weekly email summary of all new Design & Illustration tutorials. The observation of smokers to be less likely to provide consent is in contradiction to other studies [23]. To restrict this analysis to the most informative and independent SNPs, only SNPs located on autosomes with a minor allele frequency of at least 5%, less than 2% missing values, and a linkage disequilibrium lower than 0.2 were used for structural comparison. Nevertheless, there are very few taxonomies of facial features. Distinctive facial features often associated with oral-facial-digital syndrome include a split in the lip (a cleft lip ); a wide nose with a broad, flat nasal bridge; and widely spaced eyes ( hypertelorism ). Auton A, Abecasis GR, Altshuler DM, Durbin RM, Abecasis GR, Bentley DR, Chakravarti A, Clark AG, Donnelly P, Eichler EE, Flicek P, Gabriel SB, Gibbs RA, Green ED, Hurles ME, Knoppers BM, Korbel JO, Lander ES, Lee C, Lehrach H, Mardis ER, Marth GT, McVean GA, Nickerson DA, Schmidt JP, Sherry ST, Wang J, Wilson RK, Gibbs RA, Boerwinkle E, et al. Both males and females also tend to prefer facial features that are close to the average in terms of size and shape. Our next goal was to examine how the Belgian population differs from other European populations. 2015;526:6874. Article The Belgian inhabitants is a typical European population with minor but clear differences between the regions and clear signs of latest migration. The R SNPRelate package [27] was used for downstream analysis (calculation of allele frequencies, principal component analysis, ). We noted regional differences in the consent rate, a higher consent for non-smokers and a positive association with age and education level. Therefore, genotyping data were first converted in genomic data structure (gds) format. No one can better describe the standards of female beauty in Belgium than real Belgian women. Bioinformatics. The BelPHG-21 study is funded by the Belgian Science Policy via the BRAIN.be (Belgian Research Action through Interdisciplinary Network) research program (BR/121/PI/BELPHG-21). Related studies that recruited people with previous participation in health research reported on variable consent rates between 21 and 85% [15,16,17,18]. Assessing the impact of population stratification on association studies of rare variation. No wonder they are called the Italians of the North (like the Danes). They also tend to be less flexible for that reason. You can observe people in real life, or use. However, the Dutch tend to do things much more "by the book", follow rules and avoid conspicuous behaviour. Typical Belgians would tell you that "politicians are worse than criminals". When the eyes are closed, the inner corners point down noticeably. From this basic diagram, carve off a little volume for a brachycephal head, which is as long as it is wide, in other words round. There are three principal groups of Belgians, Dutch-speaking (Flemish), French-speaking (Walloons) and finally German-speaking fellows. Within Europe, the Belgian population has its unique properties, which clearly mirrors the geographic orientation and again with signs of recent migration from Southern Europe. PubMed A map of human genome variation from population-scale sequencing. 2015;47:43544. Nature. Oliver JM, Slashinski MJ, Wang T, Kelly PA, Hilsenbeck SG, McGuire AL. The genetic structure of the Belgian population, https://doi.org/10.1186/s40246-018-0136-8, ftp://ftp.1000genomes.ebi.ac.uk/vol1/ftp/release/20130502/, https://molgenis26.target.rug.nl/downloads/gonl_public/variants/release5/, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/, http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/. This is reflected in this study, in which 18.5% of the samples originated from individuals with a migration background. 4. In a female, the width is roughly the same proportion, but the foot is just longer than the face is high, and the hand is at most 3/4 of the same height. Is a Health Interview Survey an appropriate tool to assess domestic violence? Recruiting adolescents into genetic studies of smoking behavior. Demarest S, Van der Heyden J, Charafeddine R, Drieskens S, Gisle L, Tafforeau J. Methodological basics and evolution of the Belgian health interview survey 19972008. Stereotypes About Belgium That People Get Completely Wrong TRAVEL Must-Visit Attractions in Belgium TRAVEL Explainer: 'I Speak Dutch, Not Flemish' 10 Canonical Male Novelists & Poets From Belgium The Most Curious Details Of Brussels, Belgium The IJzertoren: A Symbolic Guardian Of Peace In Belgium Balancing the risks and benefits of genomic data sharing: genome research participants perspectives. Belgian Women, like females from any other ethnic group in Europe, have their own unique facial features and physical characteristics. They are also highly independent and self-reliant, which allows them to navigate the complexities of modern society with ease. JVdE analyzed the genomic data and wrote the manuscript. Her body of work encompasses drawing tutorials, graphic design, illustration, comic books, digital games and children's literature. 2013;76:2835. One of the most striking features of a typical Belgian woman is her hair. Every link, from the attractiveness of masculine facial features to the immunosuppressive nature of testosterone to the claim that masculine-looking men have good immunity genes is contested. However, in our study, the difference was attributed to a higher consent rate for former smokers than for current smokers, while no significant difference was observed between current smokers and never smokers, indicating a more complex association with smoking status. This has been shown not only on national, but also on regional levels, as exemplified by genetic substructures that were observed in Sweden [10, 24], Finland [7, 25], the Netherlands [6], and several other European countries [9]. Demographic data from the 2013 Belgian population were downloaded from Eurostat (http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat). Mary Robertson is a cross-cultural dating expert with a decade of experience and a degree in anthropology from Sorbonne. The best-known identifier of Asian ethnotypes is the epicanthic fold (or epicanthal fold, or epicanthus). All of our solutions are tested extensively in clinical and consumer trials before being launched. VCF and sample information data were downloaded from the 1000 genomes ftp site (ftp://ftp.1000genomes.ebi.ac.uk/vol1/ftp/release/20130502/), and genotype information from all SNPs overlapping with the BelPHG-21 study was extracted using the R VariantAnnotation package [28]. In the future, Kayser expects to look at more facial features, especially since the face scans stopped at the nose and excluded the lower face. It doesnt matter if youre tall or short, thin or curvy, fair or dark-skinned, what truly matters is how you carry yourself and the energy you exude. Google Scholar. 2017;27:9039. What are the Belgian Women's beauty standards? A combination of cultural, societal, and economic factors shape the personal qualities of modern Belgian women. Proportionally, the highest numbers of non-Belgian samples were obtained from individuals living in Brussels (11/29 samples; 37.9%), followed by Wallonia (18/62; 29.0%), and Flanders (6/98; 6.1%) (Fig. One major difference between Belgian and Dutch people is that the former have a higher "uncertainty avoidance" (see this topic for an explanation), which means that they tend to feel more insecure in a non-organised context. It has been said that few neighbouring countries are so culturally different as Belgium and the Netherlands. According to the research paper previous studies "have confirmed that H. antecessor exhibits the oldest known modern-like face in the fossil record.". A similar analysis based on sample origin information from the 10 different provinces confirmed these geographic-related genetic differences (Additionalfile5: Figure S3). National and international efforts like the 1000 Genomes Project are leading to increasing insights in the genetic structure of populations worldwide. I personally believe that confidence is the most attractive feature a person can possess. Pockets appear under the eyes. That's why so many backpackers are from these countries, and so few from countries with a high uncertainty avoidance like Belgium, France, Germany, Italy or Spain (or even the USA). Survey weights were calculated based on age, gender, and region of residence. 2000;10(8 Suppl):S6877. This resulted in a model containing four variables (smoking behavior, education, age, and region of residence) (Table1). These numbers are proportional to the population size of the respective regions with an overrepresentation from the Brussels region (15.3, 17.3, and 24.7 samples per million inhabitants for Flanders, Wallonia, and Brussels respectively) (Additionalfile2: Table S2). Racial differences in enrolment in a cancer genetics registry. The linkage possibilities to health, demographic, and related data from the NHIS provide a unique opportunity to study the different factors that determine participation in a genetic study and to better understand public willingness to participate in population genetic research. Article Also not shown is the very rare albino eye, which is pink-red because it lacks pigment altogether so that the blood vessels give it its colour. These numbers are representative for the current structure of Belgian population, with important migration waves in the past 50years, mainly from Southern Europe and Northern Africa, and with the highest immigration numbers found in the Brussels region [13]. 2 and Additionalfile2: Table S2). MVDB, JT, HVO, and VDW designed the BelPHG-21 study. About the author: Maciamo Hay is a Belgian-born historian, population geneticist, and travel writer. They are also highly cultured, with a deep appreciation for the arts and humanities. He has travelled in over 50 countries and spent at least a few months in 10 countries, during which time he attentively studied the language, customs and cultural traits of the locals. A large assortment at the lowest prices and shipped at the lowest shipping rates! Populations are indicated below the plot (AFR: African; AMR: American; EAS: East Asian; EUR: European; SAS: South Asian; BEL: Belgian). Cookies policy. Amber eyes (not to be confused with light brown) are due to the yellow or russet pigment pigment occurring in pale green eyes. From these genetic population studies, it has become clear that there is a strong correlation between the geographical location and the genetic structure of different populations [8, 9], also at the more regional level (e.g., along a north-south axis in the Netherlands) [6, 7, 9, 10]. North you go, the smaller the eyes are, while around the Mediterranean Blue ranges from pale to dark. All eye colors are pure or combined instances of the above three, sometimes with the addition of a yellow or russet pigment to the above two. . (XLSX 28534kb), Population details of the samples analyzed in the BelPHG-21 study, Belgium 2016. Jakkula E, Rehnstrm K, Varilo T, Pietilinen OPH, Paunio T, Pedersen NL, de Faire U, Jrvelin M-R, Saharinen J, Freimer N, Ripatti S, Purcell S, Collins A, Daly MJ, Palotie A, Peltonen L. The genome-wide patterns of variation expose significant substructure in a founder population. These features are a result of the country's northern European heritage, mild climate, and cultural values. His interests also include economics, philosophy, evolutionary biology, bioengineering, neuroscience, psychology, anthropology, cultural studies and linguistics. BELNE is a high-tech care line that is dedicated to beauty by science. Zheng X, Levine D, Shen J, Gogarten SM, Laurie C, Weir BS. In Hooded eyes, which can be present from birth or develop with age, a fold of skin hides the natural crease in the eyelid. pressed-in. Fst values between the three Belgian regions were very small (between 1.8 and 2.5e04) and smaller than with any other European population (Fst 3.2e04 or higher) (Table2), confirming the results from the PC analyses. As the beauty industry/culture pays little attention to the ears, save as something to attach ornaments to, we don't have a small catalogue of descriptive terms as we do for eyes, nose and lips. They are well-educated and well-informed, and possess a keen understanding of the world around them. It is rare for female's hairlines to recede with age as males' do. This makes them particularly open-minded and good at working in cosmopolitan environments. (XLSX 10kb), Genetic variation of the Belgian population related to continental populations. This likely explains why one individual with a clear non-European genetic background was not found to have a migration background based on our criteria, which is unlikely. 1). Ergonomics, forensic anthropology, crime prevention or new human-machine interaction systems and online activities, like e-commerce, e-learning, games, dating or social networks, are fields in which classifications of . Belgian women typically have fair skin, which is often smooth and unblemished. Variant allele frequencies from the Genome of the Netherlands (GoNl) project were derived from the release 5 vcf files downloaded at https://molgenis26.target.rug.nl/downloads/gonl_public/variants/release5/. Male hairlines may start receding, though that can start happening in young adulthood. It is more difficult to define the Belgian national character than that of most other European countries, because of Belgium's division in 3 linguistico-cultural groups : the Dutch-speaking Flemings, the French-speaking Walloons, and the tiny German-speaking community at the German border (also part of Wallonia). 2004;14:11722. Male lips are thinner, but the mouth is wider. To gain sufficient statistical power and avoid false positives/negatives due to unmatched control populations in genotype-phenotype association studies, population-based genetic reference data are required from more specific and extended populations [3]. Arch Public Heal. Nat Genet. The locals tend to distrust them and are not willing to pay someone to hear their opinion, as they think that they can do that by themselves. [11]. Durbin RM, Altshuler DL, Durbin RM, Abecasis GR, Bentley DR, Chakravarti A, Clark AG, Collins FS, De La Vega FM, Donnelly P, Egholm M, Flicek P, Gabriel SB, Gibbs RA, Knoppers BM, Lander ES, Lehrach H, Mardis ER, McVean GA, Nickerson DA, Peltonen L, Schafer AJ, Sherry ST, Wang J, Wilson RK, Gibbs RA, Deiros D, Metzker M, Muzny D, Reid J, et al. Even better, compare photos or real people, to get a fuller appreciation of how deeply carved the Caucasian face is, compared with the less dramatic Asian face somehow like high- vs. low-relief. Richard Hill explains in his book EuroManagers & Martians, that during WWII, in a German prisoner-of-war camp, made up of 3,000 French, 350 Belgians, 100 Brits and 50 other people, 142 self-appointed prisoners leaders emerged, among whom 115 were Belgians. Belgian data were mapped on the European PC model (41,083 SNPs). From the remaining 199 samples, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at 300,000 sites were measured using the whole genome scanning Illumina HumanCytoSNP-12 microarray. The nose starts to develop a bridge, but the tip is still upturned, so it looks short. Audrain J, Tercyak KP, Goldman P, Bush A. Using the first two PCs, which capture 5.2 and 3.2% of the total variance respectively, an expected and clear separation was observed between the different continental populations, with the largest differences between African, East Asian, and European populations (Fig. We distinguish ourselves through the fact that our . "Believe nothing of what you hear, and only half of what you see" (or alternatively "Trust no one unless you have eaten much salt with him"). Cancer Epidemiol Biomark Prev. The lip shape of a Belgian woman is often full and well-defined. We first compared the genetic structure of the Belgian population with other populations worldwide. Young adults (eighteen to thirties) are probably the "default" age we draw, as that time of life is the most celebrated in Western culture. BELNE products are therefore developed by scientists and skin specialists according to the latest scientific insights. forward of the eyes, has a high root and bridge, and wings usually Barnangen Hydratant bodylotion. Human Genomics Apart from the expected origin from neighboring countries, the most frequent migration backgrounds were South European and African, in agreement with migration data. They received an invitation letter with all the information on the BelPHG-21 study as well as informed consent forms to return in case of participation. Plot of the first two principal components (PC) based on a PC analysis using 47,802 SNPs from five continental populations as indicated (AFR African, AMR American, EAS East Asian, EUR European, SAS South Asian). Furthermore, the likelihood for consent was also higher in the Flemish Region compared to the other regions. They possess a high degree of adaptability and resilience, which allows them to navigate the ups and downs of life with grace and poise. Within Belgium, a small north-west to south-east gradient in genetic variability was noted, with differences between Flanders and Wallonia. Facial features of typical Belgian Woman: Belgium, a small yet highly developed country in Western Europe, is known for its diverse culture and history. While beauty standards may vary across different cultures, it is clear that Belgian women possess their own distinct brand of elegance and charm. Terms and Conditions, Finally, we acknowledge all study subjects for their participation. The main variance was captured by the first four PCs (10.4%, Additionalfile3: Figure S1a). This is the first study on the genetic structure of the Belgian population and its regional variation. Novembre et al. The very first difference we see between a male and a female face: how pronounced and square the male jaw is compared to the soft curve of a female jaw. Mesocephal, the intermediate type, can be seen as the default drawing proportions we learned in our basic proportions. Gray is simply a variant of the blue pigment. It also shows the Adam's apple, which a female neck never does. By applying this PC model on the Belgian SNP genotype data, 184/189 samples were perfectly mapped on the European population. All Belgian samples with a South European migration background are indicated. Am J Public Health. Genetic variation of the Belgian population related to continental populations. Adjust in your characters as needed. Eyebrows are only half as dark as they will be in adulthood, so they may appear absent in very fair babies. By incorporating NHIS information about the study subjects residence and parental country of birth, we demonstrate small but clear genetic differences between different regions and illustrate how the populations genetic structure is shaped by recent migration waves. Before adolescence, there is no difference between male and female faces. Secondly, there is also a risk of false positive migration findings as country of birth does not necessarily imply the individual (or his parents) originated in that country. The demographics of the 341 participants were modeled as dummy variables, such that White (19%), Asian (21%), Hispanic/Latinx (14%), Biracial (8%), other race (2%), non-female (male, non-binary, and prefer not to respond) participants (24%), and those older than 21 (11%) were compared to participants who identified as Black, women, and no older A principal component (PC) analysis was performed using phase 3 data from 1000 genomes [2]. Here are the most common personal qualities of a typical Belgian woman have a significant influence on their social behavior and lifestyle. taxes) and breaking stupid laws is a national sport in Belgium (and Belgium doesn't lack laws about everything imaginable). The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated. Here I'll just point out broad points, useful to know, with the aim of introducing diversity of features, rather than drawing specific ethnicities "accurately". Nucleic Acids Res. One of the defining characteristics of Belgian Women is their love for socializing with friends and family. The close mirroring of population genetic variation with geography is a well-known phenomenon that has been described at the European level previously [8, 9]. Covering facial features around the world properly would require treating every ethnotype individually as done in these charts. Genetic variation of the Belgian population related to other European populations. Bogner HR, Wittink MN, Merz JF, Straton JB, Cronholm PF, Rabins PV, Gallo JJ. The appearance and facial features of modern Belgian women have been shaped by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Below are the basic shapes for females and males, and how they look with low and high arch. PLoS One. Correlations were determined for SNPs after filtering using the higher mentioned criteria. Hum Genomics 12, 6 (2018). Genotype calls were imported in R and converted in a sample x SNP matrix. This non-Belgian origin was clearly reflected in the genetic structure of the Belgian population. Beauty is subjective and should never be defined by societal expectations. Its a feature that gives them a refined and elegant look. These features are a result of the countrys northern European heritage, mild climate, and cultural values. 2023 BioMed Central Ltd unless otherwise stated. Similarly, the distribution of these samples was relatively proportional to the population size from each of 10 provinces in Belgium with a variation from 11.3 to 26.7 samples per million inhabitants (Fig. The number of collected samples is indicated for the three regions and 10 provinces.