Burden of hereditary diseases in residents of the Mari El Republic]

A summary of the medical genetic studies of the Marii El population is presented. A total of 276,900 people, 110,894 and 166,006 urban and rural inhabitants, respectively, were examined. Regarding the ethnic composition, the studied population was mostly Mari (61.96%) and Russian (32.04%). Medical genetic examination revealed 480 subjects from 260 families with autosomal dominant (AD) diseases, 234 subjects from 184 families with autosomal recessive (AR) diseases, and 49 subjects from 41 families with x-linked diseases. Segregation analysis revealed a good agreement between the expected and observed segregation frequencies for families with AR and AD diseases and allowed the frequency of hereditary diseases in the urban and rural, as well as the Russian and Mari, populations, to be estimated. The total frequency of AD diseases in Maris was approximately twice as high as in Russians (1.99 and 0.97%, respectively); substantial differences between district populations were found. The total frequency of AR diseases was also two times higher in Maris than in Russians (1.00 and 0.54%, respectively). The frequencies of AR and AD diseases in different districts were correlated with the levels of random and local inbreeding, population size, and the index of maximum selection.     

北京东灵山地区不同海拔柴胡居群的遗传多样性

利用ISSR技术对北京东灵山地区不同海拔的6个柴胡居群进行分析,观察不同海拔柴胡居群的遗传多样性。结果表明,东灵山地区不同海拔柴胡居群的遗传多样性差异较大,海拔1135m居群表现出较高的遗传变异水平,高海拔居群遗传多样性较低;遗传距离与海拔差距有一定的相关性,相邻海拔的不同柴胡居群间具有相对较低的遗传距离;柴胡具有较强的遗传分化趋势,且大部分变异存在于居群内。不同海拔导致的异质生境及基因流是影响柴胡居群遗传多样性的主要原因。     

Load of hereditary diseases in the populations of the Adyg autonomic district

Comparative analysis of the loads of hereditary diseases in two ethnically different populations coexisting in the Adyg national district was performed. The modes of inheritance of diseases studied were tested by segregational analysis. The results obtained demonstrated that the load of autosomal-recessive diseases in the populations of the Adyg national district is higher than that in Russian population, while the load of autosomal-dominant diseases is similar in two populations. This difference in the level of the loads appear to be connected with genetic structure of the populations studied. Regressional analysis of relations between loads and the level of inbreeding in the Adyg population showed the explicit interrelation between the load of autosomal-dominant diseases and the Fst correlation coefficient being 0.89.     

Genetic characteristics of 32 autosomal STR loci and its application for identifying a locus in hereditary hearing loss in the Korean population

Microsatellites, short tandem repeats, are useful markers for genetic analysis because of their high frequency of occurrence over the genome, high information content due to variable repeat lengths, and ease of typing. To establish a panel of microsatellite markers useful for genetic studies for hereditary hearing loss in the Korean population, the allele frequencies and heterozygosities of 32 microsatellite markers in 172 unrelated Korean individuals were examined. The heterozygosity values for these markers ranged from 48 to 87%. All the markers except D6S1038 and D14S1034 marker showed PIC values over 0.5. This indicates these markers have a high degree of polymorphism and are randomly distributed in the Korean population. Therefore, the combinations of these STR loci provide a powerful tool to find the candidate loci of a causative gens for non-syndromic hearing loss in the Korean population.     

Frequency of chromosome aberrations in residents of the Semipalatinsk Oblast]

Cytogenetic analysis of the population of the Beskaragai district of the Semipalatinsk oblast adjacent to the territory of the nuclear test site was conducted by means of an ecological genetic questionnaire and cytogenetic examination of metaphase chromosomes. An increase in the total mutation level in the region was observed. The frequency of chromosome aberrations among the population of the Beskaragai district (3.2%) was statistically significantly (about 1.5 times) higher than the background levels in the clear regions (from 1 to 2%). Furthermore, the frequency of aberrations in adolescents was comparable with that in the adults. The spectrum of chromosome aberrations pointed to a significant contribution of radiation component to the mutagenesis.     

Medical genetic study of the population of Turkmenia. III. Hereditary pathology in Turkmen Nokhurlis

Medical-genetic investigations were carried out in isolated population of Nokhurlis inhabiting some villages of Ashkhabad and Krasnovodsk provinces. A high coefficient of inbreeding, high endogamy, and low coefficients of migration were found for this population. Two hereditary disorders are relatively frequent among the Nokhurlis and lacking in neighboring populations. The frequency of the autosomal dominant gene for congenital cataract is 0.26% and that of the autosomal recessive gene for a peculiar form of obesity is 2.47%. In both cases, the main factor affecting gene accumulation appears to be the result of genetical drift effect. The total load of hereditary diseases of higher in Nokhurlis than in other Turkmen populations. The connection between the population structure of Nokhurlis and the accumulation of hereditary disorders is discussed.     

Prevalence of hereditary pathology in Altai Republic

Medical genetic study of the population of Altai Republic (Russia) has been performed. The population sample comprises 203 148 subjects, including 59 196 Altaians, 134 972 Russians, and 8980 Kazakhs. For each nosological group, the loads of Mendelian pathology with different modes of inheritance and their prevalence rates in urban and rural populations have been determined. Thirty-six autosomal dominant (AD) diseases have been found in a total of 121 subjects, with hereditary syndromes being the most prevalent. Autosomal recessive (AR) pathology is represented by 24 diseases found in 158 subjects, with metabolic disorders being the most prevalent; and X-linked pathology, by four diseases in nine subjects. The prevalence rate has been calculated for each nosological form in the district where it has been found. The loads of AD, AR, and X-linked pathologies in the urban population were, respectively, 2.98 and 9.62 per 1000 people and 0.56 per 1000 men in Altaians; 0.86 and 0.94 per 1000 people and 0.23 per 1000 men in Russians; 0.34 and 1.16 per 1000 people in Kazakhs. In the rural population, the genetic load has been calculated for each district. The spectrum of hereditary pathology in the populations studied is described.     

Medico-genetic study of the population of Uzbekistan. IV. Medico-genetic description of the population of 4 villages of the Urgut district of the Samarkand region]

The data about the incidence of hereditary diseases and those with genetic predispositions which received after subtotal medico-genetical examination of the inhabitants of 4 villages in the Urgut district of the Samarkand province are presented. 848 inhabitants (348 adults and 464 children aged 7--16 years) are examined. The nosological profile of the morbidity and spectrum of the Mendelian diseases in the population is evaluated. The integrative estimate of load of the detrimental (non-lethal) genes is about 0.166 per individual.     

The genetic structure of populations of the vulnerable aquatic macrophyte <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ranunculus nipponicus</Emphasis> (Ranunculaceae)

Ranunculus nipponicus (Makino) Nakai is a vulnerable aquatic macrophyte in the Kinki district, which is the southernmost distribution of this species in Japan. The genetic diversity and structure within and among eleven extant populations were assessed using the inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR) polymerase chain reaction in association with combinations of propagation pattern (clonal and/or seeds) and genotypic geographical structure. In total, 53 bands were amplified, of which 18 (34%) were polymorphic. Analysis of the ISSR bands identified 46 genotypes among 81 individuals from one stream population and 72 distinct genotypes among 147 individuals in the Kinki district. An unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) dendrogram showed some unity among upstream and downstream subpopulations within one stream and eleven populations. The Shannon index of genetic diversity was 0.109 for one stream population and 0.313 for total genetic diversity, suggesting relatively high genetic diversity. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed that 84.1% of the total genetic diversity occurred among populations and the remaining diversity (15.9%) occurred within populations. Significant genetic differentiation occurred among populations in the Kinki district. These results suggest that conservation of each population is important for maintaining genetic diversity of R. nipponicus in this district. An erratum to this article can be found at     

Influence of the population size on the frequency of flies infected by sigma virus in populations of Drosophila melanogaster

The frequency of flies infected by the hereditary, noncontagious rhabdovirus sigma has been followed in experimental populations bred from very few adults. The average frequency of infected flies decreased. These results suggest that overwinterning might be one of the factors responsible for the discrepancy between wild and laboratory populations; in France, previous experiments have shown that about 20% of the individuals in natural populations are infected by the sigma virus, while in laboratory populations set up from samples collected in the wild, virus is detectable in almost the whole population. The effect of winter on the frequency of infected flies might be twofold: first, it has been shown previously that infected flies seem to be more sensitive to overwintering than uninfected flies; second, the reduction of population size might reduce the ability of the population to make up for the decrease during the summer generations.     

松江鲈鱼野生群体遗传多样性的RAPD分析和SCAR标记的转化

首先,从294条10个碱基随机引物中,筛选出32条多态性引物,对富春江、黄河、滦河和鸭绿江等4个松江鲈鱼(Trachidermusfasciatus)野生群体共120尾个体进行RAPD分析。结果表明,松江鲈鱼野生群体的遗传多样性较丰富,其主要表现在:①在扩增得到的591个位点中,有515个(87.14%)位点呈现多态性,群体间多态位点比率(P)的大小顺序为:富春江群体89.17%>黄河群体87.99%>鸭绿江群体86.63%>滦河群体83.25%。②松江鲈鱼群体间的Shannon信息指数(IT)和Nei’s遗传多样性指数(HT)分别在0.3393~0.3566和0.2157~0.2279间,滦河群体的值较其他3群体稍低;若作为一个整体,则总的Shannon信息指数(IT)和Nei’s遗传多样性指数(HT)分别为0.3710±0.2153和0.2336±0.1643。③虽然群体间基因流值(Nm)在5.76103～19.84497间,显示各地理群体间存在程度不同的基因交流,但分子方差分析(AMOVA)结果却表明,各群体间存在显著(P<0.05)或极显著(P<0.01)的遗传分化。④聚类分析表明,鸭绿江群体首先与黄河群体聚为一支,再与富春江群体相聚,最后与单独一支的滦河群体聚类,表明鸭绿江、黄河、富春江等3群体间的遗传距离与彼此间的地理距离远近密切相关,而滦河群体与它们的遗传距离较远。其次,从获得的S1225525bp、S1225605bp、S1225841bp、S1345695bp、S1345825bp等5个特异RAPD条带中,成功地由S1225605bp、S1225841bp条带分别转化出SCAR01560bp、SCAR02443bp的SCAR标记。这两个标记的出现频率,在鸭绿江群体最高(96.67%和93.33%)、富春江群体其次(83.33%和90%)、黄河群体再其次(56.67%和66.67%)、滦河群体最低(13.33%和20%)。因此,SCAR01560bp、SCAR02443bp可作为鉴别松江鲈鱼滦河群体与其他3群体的分子标记。     

Biased Gene Conversion Skews Allele Frequencies in Human Populations,Increasing the Disease Burden of Recessive Alleles

Gene conversion results in the nonreciprocal transfer of genetic information between two recombining sequences, and there is evidence that this process is biased toward G and C alleles. However, the strength of GC-biased gene conversion (gBGC) in human populations and its effects on hereditary disease have yet to be assessed on a genomic scale. Using high-coverage whole-genome sequences of African hunter-gatherers, agricultural populations, and primate outgroups, we quantified the effects of GC-biased gene conversion on population genomic data sets. We find that genetic distances (F_ST and population branch statistics) are modified by gBGC. In addition, the site frequency spectrum is left-shifted when ancestral alleles are favored by gBGC and right-shifted when derived alleles are favored by gBGC. Allele frequency shifts due to gBGC mimic the effects of natural selection. As expected, these effects are strongest in high-recombination regions of the human genome. By comparing the relative rates of fixation of unbiased and biased sites, the strength of gene conversion was estimated to be on the order of Nb ≈ 0.05 to 0.09. We also find that derived alleles favored by gBGC are much more likely to be homozygous than derived alleles at unbiased SNPs (+42.2% to 62.8%). This results in a curse of the converted, whereby gBGC causes substantial increases in hereditary disease risks. Taken together, our findings reveal that GC-biased gene conversion has important population genetic and public health implications.     

Population genetics research in the Lerik region of Azerbaijan

The results of populational, clinic-genealogical and genetic-demographic research for six villages in Lerik region of Azerbaijan Republic are presented. The frequency of consanguineous marriages according to pedigrees was 62.3% with 32.4% of marriages between cousins. Inbreeding coefficient F = 0.0486 is considerably higher that the mean value for population of the Republic (F = 0.0063). The register of patients with congenital and inherited pathologies in the population of the studied villages has been set up. Genetic screening of glucose-6-phosphatedehydrogenase erythrocyte enzyme deficiency in schoolchildren revealed high frequency of pathologic gene (36.4%) previously unregistered for the population of the Republic.     

Attitudes toward genetic testing in patients at risk for HNPCC/FAP and the German population

Adequate knowledge regarding hereditary diseases and genetics, as well as personal attitudes toward gene tests, are major determinants of optimal utilization of genetic testing. In the present study, we aimed to explore the general attitudes toward genetic testing in a sample representative of the German general population (n = 2,076) and to compare the attitudes of persons at risk for hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer/familial adenomatous polyposis (HNPCC/FAP) (n = 36) who had attended a university genetic counseling service, with a matched general population sample. We administered a subset of a questionnaire previously used in a Finnish study (Jallinoja et al., 1998). The 12 statements pertain to approval, disapproval, and concern for genetic testing. Overall, the results reveal high approval of genetic testing in the German population and in at-risk persons. In accordance with other studies, we find that the attitudes of individuals for whom hereditary disease is a salient issue of personal relevance and the attitudes of the general public are very similar. Only a few significant differences between these two samples emerged, indicating that at-risk persons hold a more favourable view of the testing. One intriguing finding was the high rate of "don't know" responses, especially in the general population sample. Compared to results from Finland, approval of genetic testing is lower in the German population, and endorsement of "don't knows" is remarkably higher. We argue for increased attention to the issue of attitude change after genetic counseling and for the need of comparative cross-cultural research on attitudes toward gene technology.     

Problems in the genetics of bovine leukemia. II. The effect of fathers and mothers on the leukemia disease frequency in the progeny

Geneology of 14,000 animals which are the progeny of 554 bulls are studied, 2060 of them having leucosis. Differences between bulls in the frequency of the disease in daughters are observed. The morbidity of daughters of bulls having leucosis is higher than for the population in the average. The morbidity of the animals depends on the linear relation animals. "Leucosis" families having a high concentration of ill animals for several generations, and families resistant to leucosis are revealed. Daughters of leucosis mothers got ill more often than those of healthy animals. The coefficient of heritability of leucosis ranges from 0.07 to 0.50. Concordancy for leucosis in unisexual twins is 74.1%. Insignificant increase in leucosis is found for the last three generations. Predisposition for leucosis is characterized by a complex hereditary condition. The portion of genetic factors is quite enought to conduct the animal selection for leucosis resistance.     

Medico-genetic study of the population of Uzbekistan. I. Incidence and variety of hereditary pathology]

In district of the Samarkand province the screening for families burdened with multiple cases of non-infectious diseases was performed. The principles of the applied screening procedure are described in the present paper. In the course of clinical examination 98 families were detected, 55 of which included more than one person suffering presumably with Mendelian diseases and 43--with multifactorial disorders. Over 30 nosological forms were found, among which orthopaedic and neurological forms were the most frequent. As a rule, identical cases were detected in one or two families. The role of certain genetic processes in the distribution of hereditary diseases in the Uzbek population is discussed.     

Frequency of the SCID gene among Arabian horses in the USA

Severe combined immunodeficiency disease (SCID) of horses is an autosomal, recessive hereditary disease occurring among Arabian horses. The genetic defect responsible for this disease was recently identified as a 5-basepair deletion in the gene encoding DNA-protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs). Horses with one copy of the gene appear normal, while horses with two copies of the gene manifest the disease. The present report describes a PCR-based test for detection of the gene defect and the results from testing 250 randomly selected Arabian horses. The frequency of SCID gene carriers was 8·4% (21/250). Based on the gene frequency reported here, the authors would expect 0·18% (1 out of 567) of Arabian foals to be affected with SCID based on a random breeding population.     

Population-genetic structure of Chuvashia (from data on eight DNA loci in the nuclear genome)

Population-genetic study of indigenous populations representing three ethnic Chuvash group: highland (Cheboksarsk and Morgaush district), lowland (Kanash district) and mid-lowland (Marposad district). Eight polymorphic DNA loci of the nuclear genome (VNTR/PAH, STR/PAH, VNTR/ApoB, VNTR/DAT1, APF, VNTR/eNOS, IVS6aGATT, and KM.19/PstI) were examined in the population of each district. For each of the four population, we estimated the allele and genotype frequency distributions at each polymorphic system, heterozygosities HS and between-population differences FST. In the combined Chuvash sample, HS = 0.464 and FST = 0.006. Loci VNTR(DAT) and VNTR(ApoB) showed highest between-population differentiation (0.009 < or = FST < or = 0.012), and loci IVS6aGATT, APF, VNTR/eNOS, and D7S23 (KM.19), lowest differentiation (0.001 < or = FST < or = 0.003). Analysis of genetic distances revealed somewhat higher genetic similarity between the Cheboksarsk and Morgaush populations belonging to the highland Chuvash group, whereas the highland Chuvash population from the Marposad district, which belong to the mid-lowland group, was more distant from the former populations.     

Genetic epidemiological study of Bashkortostan Republic: The effect of genetic structure of population on the load of monogenic hereditary diseases

Here we present the data obtained during medical genetic examination of the population of five districts of Bashkortostan Republic (Burzyanskii, Baimakskii, Abzelilovskii, Salavatskii, and Arkhangelskii) populated with 168050 persons including 135748 Bashkirs. The study involved all the population of the districts including each ethnic group and was conducted according to standard protocol developed in the Laboratory of Genetic Epidemiology, Medical Genetic Research Center, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences. Based on segregation analysis, the values of prevalence rates of the major types of Mendelian pathology (AD, AR, and X-linked diseases) was calculated in five regions of the Republic as well as for Bashkirs alone. Significant differences in the prevalence rates of AD and AR pathologies between individual districts, in particular upon division in rural and urban population, was observed. The prevalence rates comparison of monogenic hereditary pathology among Bashkirs compared to other previously examined populations have shown that the patterns of the hereditary disease load in the inspected districts of Bashkortostan were similar to that observed in the population of some districts in Udmurtia, Marii El and Chuvashiya. Russian European populations have shown significantly lower load of hereditary diseases. Correlation analysis of local inbreeding, endogamy and prevalence rates of AD and AR pathologies has shown that development of hereditary diseases load is significantly affected by gene drift.     

AFLP markers demonstrate local genetic differentiation between two indigenous oak species [ Quercus robur L. and Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.] in Flemish populations

The nuclear genetic variation within and between four sessile ( Q. petraea) and six pedunculate ( Q. robur) autochthonous Flemish oak populations was investigated with AFLP markers. One sessile and one pedunculate oak population were additionally screened for detailed leaf characteristics using an image analysis system. Principal coordinate analysis on the AFLP data classified the oaks in two main groups, according to their taxonomic status. No species-specific AFLP markers were found using four primer combinations, but marker frequency differences up to 71% were recorded between both species. Analysis of the genetic structure showed that the divergence between species, as observed by ordination, was significant. Both species revealed similar diversity levels. A smaller though significant differentiation was also revealed for both species among populations within species. Molecular and morphology based approaches showed a high degree of consistency. Screening of 60 AFLP primer combinations using a bulking strategy did not allow identifying species-specific markers, which supports the conclusions reached in previous studies. The distribution of genetic variability at the species and at the population level is discussed.