The distribution of AB0 and LH blood groups in some north Indian populations

The distribution of AB0 and LH blood groups among five Punjabi populations from North India (Jat Sikh, Bania, Brahmin, Sikh Khatri and Hindu Khatri) is reported. Significant differences have been found in many cases regarding the distribution of AB0 and LH systems, especially between Sikh Khatris and Hindu Khatris, who are usually pooled for population genetic studies.     

The distribution of the group specific component (Gc) in four endogamous groups of Punjab, North India

The paper reports the distribution of group specific component (Gc) types among four endogamous groups of Punjab: Jat Sikh, Khatri, Ramgarhia, and Ramdasia. A total of 418 individuals were tested for this polymorphism. The frequency of Gc1 alleles ranges between 0.7056 and 0.7636. These frequencies are compared with those obtained in other Indian populations.     

Genomic diversity and affinities in population groups of North West India: An analysis of Alu insertion and a single nucleotide polymorphism

The North West region of India is extremely important to understand the peopling of India, as it acted as a corridor to the foreign invaders from Eurasia and Central Asia. A series of these invasions along with multiple migrations led to intermixture of variable populations, strongly contributing to genetic variations. The present investigation was designed to explore the genetic diversities and affinities among the five major ethnic groups from North West India; Brahmin, Jat Sikh, Bania, Rajput and Gujjar. A total of 327 individuals of the abovementioned ethnic groups were analyzed for 4 Alu insertion marker loci (ACE, PV92, APO and D1) and a Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) rs2234693 in the intronic region of the ESR1 gene. Statistical analysis was performed to interpret the genetic structure and diversity of the population groups. Genotypes for ACE, APO, ESR1 and PV92 loci were found to be in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium in all the ethnic groups, while significant departures were observed at the D1 locus in every investigated population after Bonferroni's correction. The average heterozygosity for all the loci in these ethnic groups was fairly substantial ranging from 0.3927 ± 0.1877 to 0.4333 ± 0.1416. Inbreeding coefficient indicated an overall 10% decrease in heterozygosity in these North West Indian populations. The gene differentiation among the populations was observed to be of the order of 0.013. Genetic distance estimates revealed that Gujjars were close to Banias and Jat Sikhs were close to Rajputs. Overall the study favored the recent division of the populations of North West India into largely endogamous groups. It was observed that the populations of North West India represent a more or less homogenous genetic entity, owing to their common ancestral history as well as geographical proximity.     

Erythrocyte enzyme polymorphisms in the Kamboh caste of Patiala, Punjab

Data are presented on six erythrocyte enzyme polymorphisms (ADA, GLO I, EsD, AK, AP, GPI) in the Kamboh, a scheduled caste inhabiting the Patiala district of the Indian state of Punjab. With their high ADA2 (18.5%), Pa (42.5%) and GPI3 (5.3%) and a rather low GLO1 (18.8%) frequencies, the Kamboh differ from all other populations of Punjab.     

Age, gender and caste variations in scalp hair micro-morphological variables among Brahmins and Banias of Punjab, India

A cross-sectional sample of 3136 scalp hair drawn from 392 individuals aged 10 to 60 years and belonging to the Bania (n = 201) and Brahmin (n = 191) caste groups of Punjab State of India were examined for diameters of hair shaft and medulla, scale count, medulla type, hair index, medullary index and scale-count index, employing standard procedures. The mean hair shaft diameter, medullary diameter, incidence of medullation and scale-count index was higher in males, while the mean scale count was higher in females. However, with a few exceptions, the gender differences were not statistically significant (p < 0.05). The Brahmins showed significantly (p < 0.05) higher mean values of hair shaft diameter and scale count than the Banias. The mean scale-count index was higher among the Banias. The fragmentary medulla was the most common medullary type among the Banias, while the continuous medulla was the most frequent type of medulla among the Brahmins. The frequency of medullation was significantly more among the Banias. On the average, the hair shaft diameter and diameter of medulla increased up to 30 years. Some age variations in medullation were noticed in both the caste groups. No clear age trend was noticeable in the scale count. By and large, the mean hair shaft diameter of the Banias was less than that of other populations. The mean hair shaft diameter of the Brahmin males was greater than that of the Banias, the Onges, and the Bengalees. The Brahmin females showed greater mean hair shaft diameter than that of the Banias, the Australian Aborigines, the Juangs and the Onges. Human scalp hair shows some age, gender and population variations in micro-morphological variables which have the potential of being useful for anthropological and forensic investigations.     

Distribution of glyoxalase I (GLO) variants in Western Europe and the Indian subcontinent

Summary English, Italian (including Sardinian), and Spanish populations from Europe and Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Punjabi, and other populations from the Indian subcontinent currently living either in Birmingham or in India were screened for electrophoretically detectable genetic variants of red cell glyoxalase I (GLO), and their frequencies were reported. All the western European populations investigated, including those reported, exhibited an incidence of close to 44% for the GLO ¹ gene. The frequency distribution of the GLO ¹ gene in various populations from the Indian subcontinent, in contrast, was found to range between 0.15 and 0.33. These observations suggest that the European populations in general are genetically more homogeneous than are the populations of the Indian subcontinent.     

Population genetics of the group specific component (Gc) and phosphoglucomutase (PGM1) studied by isoelectric focusing

For the determination of the group-specific component (Gc) and phosphoglucomutase (PGM1) phenotypes, isoelectric focusing was performed on two samples, one of Jat Sikh of northwest India, the other of northeast English. The subtype frequencies of these two systems do not differentiate the two populations sampled. Synthesis of the existing data shows distinct PGM1 and Gc subtype frequencies in various ethnic and racial groups. The anthropological implication of these subtype frequencies is discussed.     

Genetic heterogeneity of Apo CII locus in north India

Apolipoprotein CII genotypes were determined in Brahmins, Banias, Jat Sikhs, Khatris, Ramgarhia, Ramdasia and Scheduled Castes of Punjab, North India (n = 930). The Apo CII exhibits three common polymorphic alleles CII*1, CII*2 and CII*3 with pooled frequencies 0.883, 0.114 and 0.003, respectively. CII*3 was absent in Brahmins. Distribution of Apo CII isoforms highlights a considerable variation among different ethnic groups across the world. The average heterozygosity of the Punjabi populations was 0.208. The gene diversity among these population groups was less than 0.1%.     

Polymorphism of red cell glyoxalase I (EI: 4.4.1.5); a new genetic marker in man. Investigation of 169 mother-child combinations.

The polymorphism of glyoxalase I was investigated in 169 mother-child combinations from southwestern Germany. Glyoxalase I (GLO) has 3 common phenotypes: GLO 1, GLO 2-1, and GLO 2. The results are in good agreement with the formal hypothesis: Two alleles GLO1 and GLO2 at an autosomal locus. The GLO1 gene frequency was estimated to be 0.39. From the electrophoretic pattern the GLO-molecule appears to consist of two subunits.     

Gene diversity for haptoglobin and transferrin classical markers among Hindu and Muslim populations of Aligarh city,India

The present paper reports the distribution of serum protein markers viz. haptoglobin and transferrin in two major groups of Aligarh city of North India. In present study we have undertaken a survey of 538 individuals belonging to eight different populations, four from the Hindu community i.e. Brahmin, Bania, Rajput and Jatav, and the rest four among the Muslim community i.e. Syed, Sheikh, Pathan and Ansari. The heterozygosity ranged from 0.2939 (Ansari) to 0.4873 (Brahmin) for haptoglobin and from 0.000 (Rajput) to 0.1498 (Pathan) for transferrin. The values of D _ST are 0.4122 and 0.4406, and that of G _ST are 0.5059 and 0.9726 for haptoglobin and transferrin markers respectively. Through F _ST test, it has been concluded that there is a high genetic differentiation of populations within Hindu and Muslim groups, though there is absence of any significant differences between these groups.     

Estimated fat, bone mineral, total body water and cell solids in females of two communities of Punjab, India

The data for the present study consist of 502 Jat-Sikh and 510 Bania females of Punjab (India), ranging in age from 20 to 80 years. The different components of the body i.e. fat, bone mineral, total body water and cell solids have been calculated from anthropometric measurements by applying different equations given by various investigators. While studying age changes in different components of the body, it is the fat component, which has undergone major fluctuations past maturity. It has increased significantly from age-group 20-29 to 40-49 in both Jat-Sikh and Bania females. A significant decrease in fat has been observed from age-group 60-69 to 70 +. The bone minerals have exhibited little changes with age. The total body water and cell solids show a significant increase from age-group 20-29 to 30-39, followed by a decrease in both the communities. The decrease in these two components is statistically significant from age-group 40-49 to 50-59 in Bania females only. While comparing the two communities it has been observed that bone minerals are significantly larger in Jat-Sikh females, and fat is significantly larger in Bania females except in the last two age-groups. The other two components i.e. total body water and cell solids show statistically non-significant differences in the two communities.     

中国20个民族中PGM_1及其亚型EsD、GLO1、AK、ADA和6-PGD酶型分布调查

调查了汉族、鄂伦春、赫哲、朝鲜、蒙古、羌、土家、苗、侗、畲、壮、纳西、傈僳、白、彝、景颇、哈尼、傣、维吾尔和塔吉克等20个民族的PGM_1及其亚型,EsD、GLO_1、AK、ADA和6-PGD等酶型的分布及基因频率。PGM_1及其亚型、EsD和GLO_1在中国各民族中是分布较好的,个人识别能力较高的酶。有12个民族查出有PQM_1~6基因,壮族的频率最高,PGM_1 6-1表型达4.15％。对在4174份血样中所检出的带有PGM_1~6基因的68份血样做亚型分析,在凝胶上PGM_1~6谱带均在同一位置上。EsD_1基因频率的总趋向是北方各民族高于南方。哈尼、傈僳、傣、纳西、畲、壮、侗和苗等民族EsD2-2表型达15％以上,哈尼族高达32.4％。GLO1~1基因频率塔吉克和维吾尔族为0.2927和0.2112,羌族为0.0583,其它各族在0.0714—0.1527。各民族AK~1、ADA和6-PGD~(?)基因频率均甚高。     

Rapid detection of glyoxalase I (GLO) on cellulose acetate gel and the distribution of GLO variants in a Dutch population

Summary A rapid electrophoretic procedure is described for detecting the human red cell glyoxalase I variants (GLO 1, GLO 2-1, and GLO 2) on cellulose acetate gel (cellogel) on which the sites of enzymed activity are visualized as purple bands against white background. The frequency of GLO ¹ gene in a Dutch population living in and around Leiden was found to be 0.4544.     

Genetic studies among the sedentes and migrant Oraons of eastern India

A total of 334 Oraons of both sexes from two localities in eastern India were tested for 11 polymorphic and six monomorphic blood genetic markers. The sample comprised 130 sedentes from the Gumla district in Bihar and 204 migrants to the Jalpaiguri district of North Bengal. At the hemoglobin locus one example of HbAS was observed in the Gumla sample, while two cases of HbAS were found in the Jalpaiguri group. The Oraons are a distinct tribe and are characterized by a very low frequency of Hp1, TFC2, and a high frequency of TfD1 and GcIF at the serum protein loci. In the red cell enzyme systems the Oraons have a higher frequency of pa at the acid phosphatase locus and GLO1 at the Glyoxalase I locus. Absence of red cell lactate dehydrogenase and very low HbS and GdB- is also characteristic of the Oraons. A probable new nondeficient slow variant of Gd has been observed in polymorphic frequency in the Oraons of Gumla. There was an excess of homozygotes at the Gc locus. No significant difference in the gene frequency between the two groups of Oraons was observed at any of the loci. Genetic distance estimates using the gene frequency data indicate that the Oraons of the two localities are genetically homogeneous and form one cluster with the Bhils. They are nearer to the Irula and Kurumba tribes of the Nilgiris rather than the other Dravidian tribes, Tamils, or Nayars.     

Glycolate oxidase isozymes are coordinately controlled by GLO1 and GLO4 in rice

Glycolate oxidase (GLO) is a key enzyme in photorespiratory metabolism. Four putative GLO genes were identified in the rice genome, but how each gene member contributes to GLO activities, particularly to its isozyme profile, is not well understood. In this study, we analyzed how each gene plays a role in isozyme formation and enzymatic activities in both yeast cells and rice tissues. Five GLO isozymes were detected in rice leaves. GLO1 and GLO4 are predominately expressed in rice leaves, while GLO3 and GLO5 are mainly expressed in the root. Enzymatic assays showed that all yeast-expressed GLO members except GLO5 have enzymatic activities. Further analyses suggested that GLO1, GLO3 and GLO4 interacted with each other, but no interactions were observed for GLO5. GLO1/GLO4 co-expressed in yeast exhibited the same isozyme pattern as that from rice leaves. When either GLO1 or GLO4 was silenced, expressions of both genes were simultaneously suppressed and most of the GLO activities were lost, and consistent with this observation, little GLO isozyme protein was detected in the silenced plants. In contrast, no observable effect was detected when GLO3 was suppressed. Comparative analyses between the GLO isoforms expressed in yeast and the isozymes from rice leaves indicated that two of the five isozymes are homo-oligomers composed of either GLO1 or GLO4, and the other three are hetero-oligomers composed of both GLO1 and GLO4. Our current data suggest that GLO isozymes are coordinately controlled by GLO1 and GLO4 in rice, and the existence of GLO isozymes and GLO molecular and compositional complexities implicate potential novel roles for GLO in plants.     

Acid phosphatase polymorphism in some endogamous populations of Andhra Pradesh

The distribution of acid phosphatase (ACP) phenotypes in six endogamous Brahmin sub-sects and in the Vysya, Mala and Madiga castes of Andhra Pradesh, India, were investigated. The ACP A gene frequency ranged from 0.167 to 0.254. The ACP C allele was observed in three Brahmin sub-sects.     

Polymorphism of red cell glyoxalase I in Serbia, Yugoslavia

Red cell glyoxalase I (GLO) phenotypes were determined in 258 unrelated adults from the population of Serbia (Yugoslavia). The GLO1 gene frequency was estimated to be 0.384.     

Brief communication: Allelic and haplotypic structure at the DRD2 locus among five North Indian caste populations

The dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) gene, with its known human‐specific derived alleles that can facilitate haplotype reconstruction, presents an important locus for anthropological studies. The three sites (TaqIA, TaqIB, and TaqID) of the DRD2 gene are widely studied in various world populations. However, no work has been previously published on DRD2 gene polymorphisms among North Indian populations. Thus, the present study attempts to understand the genetic structure of North Indian upper caste populations using the allele and haplotype frequencies and distribution patterns of the three TaqI sites of the DRD2 gene. Two hundred forty‐six blood samples were collected from five upper caste populations of Himachal Pradesh (Brahmin, Rajput and Jat) and Delhi (Aggarwal and Sindhi), and analysis was performed using standard protocols. All three sites were found to be polymorphic in all five of the studied populations. Uniform allele frequency distribution patterns, low heterozygosity values, the sharing of five common haplotypes, and the absence of two of the eight possible haplotypes observed in this study suggest a genetic proximity among the selected populations. The results also indicate a major genetic contribution from Eurasia to North Indian upper castes, apart from the common genetic unity of Indian populations. The study also demonstrates a greater genetic inflow among North Indian caste populations than is observed among South Indian caste and tribal populations. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Polymorphism of human red cell glyoxalase I in six ethnic groups of China

Summary A total of 1242 individuals from six Chinese ethnic groups were studied with respect to the glyoxalase I polymorphism using agarose gel electrophoresis. The GLO1^*1 gene frequency and the number of subjects tested in each population are as follows: Uygur 0.2466 (219), Hui 0.1621 (219), Dong 0.1866 (201), Bai 0.1921 (203), Tujia 0.1075 (200), and Maio 0.1600 (200). The differences in the GLO1 gene frequencies between some of these populations are significant.     

我国汉族人群的乙二醛酶Ⅰ遗传多态性

用琼脂糖平板凝胶电泳技术分析了我国六个城市的汉族共1238人的红细胞乙二醛酶I的遗传多态性。每个汉族人群的受检人数和GLO1*1基因频率分别为:郑州200人(0.1023),哈尔滨195人(0.1103),呼和浩特210人(0.1259),贵阳204人(0.1373),兰州210人(0.1476),西安199人(0.1508)。中国不同地区汉族人群之间的GLOI基因频率分布存在显著性差异,但这种差异明显小于中国不同少数民族之间的差异。