ABSTRACT
The allelic distribution of the polymorphic serum proteins AHSG, PLG, FXIIIB and HP was studied in six Jewish groups who migrated to Israel from the Middle East, North Africa, Rumania, Bulgaria, Central and Eastern Europe. The observed AHSG and PLG allele frequencies in these Jewish groups were more or less similar to the observed distributions in non-Jewish populations from their respective areas of origin, while FXIIIB and HP frequencies were similar to those in European populations. Therefore, no uniform pattern of genetic relationships between the Jewish groups was observed. A genetic distance analysis including comparative data from Europe and the Middle East reflected differences between the Jewish groups according to their areas of origin.
Subject(s)
Blood Proteins/analysis , Factor XIII/analysis , Haptoglobins/analysis , Jews/genetics , Plasminogen/analysis , Polymorphism, Genetic , Africa, Northern/ethnology , Bulgaria/ethnology , Europe/ethnology , Gene Frequency , Humans , Isoelectric Focusing , Israel/epidemiology , Middle East/ethnology , Romania/ethnology , alpha-2-HS-GlycoproteinABSTRACT
The Abbad are one of the largest tribes in Jordan with a complex structure dictated by historical and cultural factors. To study the genetic variability within the tribe, we examined four samples representing different levels of tribal structure for the polymorphisms of five blood groups, five erythrocyte enzymes, and seven serum proteins. The obtained allele distributions indicate a wide range of genetic variability within the tribe. An allelic heterogeneity test revealed significant differences between the examined samples, yet a gene diversity analysis revealed no significant substructuring. The observed genetic relationships among the four samples appear to agree with the tribal organization. Endogamous mating within the tribe and inbreeding within the subunits are believed to be the main factors that influenced the observed variability. This was confirmed by the results of the R matrix analysis, which summarized the genetic relationships in concordance with intertribal admixture, when affiliation and historical and maternal links were considered. The study is also an example of gene diffusion and of a negative relationship between the FY A-B- phenotype and endemicity of malaria.
Subject(s)
Blood Group Antigens/genetics , Ethnicity/genetics , Gene Frequency/genetics , Genetic Heterogeneity , Genetic Variation/genetics , Polymorphism, Genetic/genetics , Adolescent , Adult , Consanguinity , Humans , Jordan , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
Genetic polymorphism of the PLG serum protein was examined in the Namibian !Kung San and Kavango (Bantu) populations by means of IEF technique. The two samples revealed very similar allele frequencies (!Kung San: PLG*A = 0.8351, PLG*B = 0.1649; Kavango: PLG*A = 0.8228, PLG*B = 0.1732 and PLG*M4 = 0.004). The Namibian distributions were within previously observed African PLG ranges. The effects of natural selection were also discussed.
