Genetic differentiation among some endogamous populations of Andhra Pradesh,India

Endogamous populations belonging to Brahmin, Vysya, Mala, and Madiga castes of Andhra Pradesh, South India, were investigated for certain red cell enzyme and serum protein genetic markers. Frequency values were statistically analyzed to assess genetic variation among the populations. Average heterozygosity of ten loci and genetic diversity within and between the populations were calculated by using the methods of Nei. Nei's index was used to calculate genetic distances between the pairs of populations. A dendrogram was drawn adapting the modified unweighted pair group method suggested by Li, which agreed with the history of the populations.     

Genetic study of five populations of Bihar, India.

Four-hundred fifty-nine people, including 106 Santals, 43 Bhuiyas, 107 Sakaldipi Brahmins, 108 Chamars, and 95 Ansari Muslims, of the Giridhi district of Bihar have been tested for transferrin, group-specific component, phosphoglucomutase subtypes, and glyoxalase-I, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, and adenylate kinase types. Genetic distance estimates by both dendrogram and principal component methods for these 5 populations and the Oraons on the basis of 19 alleles at 6 polymorphic loci indicate 2 major clusters: Brahmins and Muslims, the latter of which is composed of two subclusters (Santals and Bhuiyas, and Oraons and Chamars). The Santal and Bhuiya tribes both speak Mundari, whereas the Oraons speak a Dravidian language. The Chamars, although low-caste Hindus, seem to have a non-Europoid origin, as do the Oraons.     

Genetic polymorphism analysis among nine endogamous population groups of Maharashtra,India

The present paper reports results of analysis of 14 genetic marker systems-ABO, MN, Rh, Hp, Tf, Cp, Alb, AcPH, PGM, LDH, MDH, Est-D, Hb and G-6-PD studied on a number of subjects of 9 endogamous groups of Maharashtra: Bhils, Katkaris and Pawaras, (all tribal groups); Deshastha Rigvedi and Chitpavan (two Brahmin groups); Nava Budhas (a scheduled caste); Chandrasenya Kayastha Prabhu and Marathas (two middle caste groups); and Parsis a migrant group from west Asia. Analysis of heterogeneity of gene frequencies reveal considerable heterogeneity for most of the loci among these groups.     

Genetic distance analysis among nine endogamous population groups of Maharashtra,India

Genetic distance analysis based on 16 biochemical markers, following Nei's distance measure has been performed on nine endogamous groups of Maharashtra: Nava Budha, Maratha, Deshastha Rigvedi Brahmin, Chitpavan Brahmin, Chandrasenya Kayastha Prabhu, Parsis, Bhil, Pawara and Katkari. The distances between these groups are small as compared to the within group heterogeneity. The average heterozygosity per gene per locus is high for all the populations (in the range of 20–22%). The observed clusterings among these nine groups, in general, are compatible with the known ethnic history of Maharashtra.     

Genetic variation and population structure of interleukin genes among seven ethnic populations from Karnataka,India

The extent of genetic variation and the degree of genetic differentiation among seven ethnic populations from Karnataka, India (Bunt, Havyak, Iyengar, Lingayath, Smartha, Vaishya, Vokkaliga), was investigated using four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs: IL-1A 4845, IL-1B 3954, IL-1B 511 and IL-1RA 2018) of the interleukin gene cluster. Allele frequencies varied by threefold among these populations, which also differed for gene diversity and heterozygosity levels. The average degree of population subdivision among these castes was low (F _ST = 0.02). However, pair-wise interpopulation differentiation ranged from 0–7%, indicating no detectable differentiation to moderate differentiation between specific populations. The results of phylogenetic analysis based on genetic distances between populations agreed with known social and cultural data on these ethnic groups. Variation in the allele frequencies, as well as differentiation, may be attributed to differential selection and demographic factors including consanguinity among the ethnic groups. Information on the distribution of functionally relevant polymorphisms among ethnic populations may be important towards developing community medicine and public health policies.     

Ancestral consanguinity and mortality among three endogamous populations of Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh, India

Consanguineous marriages have been practiced around the globe by many societies from time immemorial, particularly in South India. Consanguineous marriages play a major role in the health of a population, and diseases leading to mortality of the progeny are a consequence of detrimental recessive genes. To evaluate the effects of ancestral consanguinity on mortality in relation to consanguineous marriage, we have ascertained data from 1,500 women belonging to three endogamous communities (Akuthota Reddy, Odde, and Madiga) of Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh, India. There were 500 women from each community. For each marriage we drew a family pedigree, extended upward to two earlier generations on either side of the spouses, to determine the prevalence and pattern of consanguinity, with detailed information on fertility and mortality. We observed a significant difference in the mortality rates between consanguineous and nonconsanguineous marriages when all the marriages of the women, women's parents, and (women's) husband's parents were considered in all three communities. In inbreeding, the offspring of earlier generations might have passed on deleterious genes to later generations (under unfavorable conditions), which resulted in a negative aspect of reproduction (among the offspring of the present couple).     

Genetic distance and gene diversity among ten endogamous groups in Chhattisgarh,Central India

A genetic survey has been conducted among the Rawats and Telis, two endogamous caste populations of Chhattisgarh, Central India. Using the gene frequency data for three genetic loci, genetic distance among ten population groups have been calculated. The gene differentiation among these population groups is only about 2 per cent.     

Genetic differentiation processes among the populations in India

The genetic variability in Indian populations is examined on the basis of the study of Tf, Gc, Gm, and Km polymorphisms. This variability is not associated with fluctuations, but is related to population history (mainly to migrations, hybrydization and caste endogamy). When genetic distances are calculated, Northern, Southern and Western Indian poplations show closer resemblances to Western Asian populations, while Eastern Indian populations are more similar to Mongoloid peoples.     

Glyoxylase I phenotypes in some endogamous populations of Andhra Pradesh, India

The distribution of glyoxylase (GLO) I phenotypes in six endogamous subgroups of Brahmins and in the Mala and Madiga castes of Andhra Pradesh was investigated. The GLO I gene frequencies ranged from 0.2444 to 0.3575. The frequency of 0.3565 found in the Mala is the highest recorded on the Indian subcontinent.     

Gene differentiation among ten endogamous groups of West Bengal, India

Ten endogamous populations of West Bengal, India have been surveyed for genetic variation in 12 systems. These populations encompass all social ranks in the caste hierarchy and cover almost the entire geographic area of the state. Gene diversity analysis suggests that these groups exhibit significant allele frequency variation at all but three loci. The overall genetic difference is not, however, in accord with the classification based on caste. Two low-ranking scheduled caste groups are, in fact, in close proximity with the high-caste ones, suggesting evidence of past generations of gene flow among them. Three different clusters of groups emerge from the present data, providing support for the anthropologic assertion that in Bengal Proto-Australoid, Caucasoid, and Mongoloid racial elements generally coexist. However, these three components are not uniformly present in all groups. Geographic separation of the groups is a strong determinant of the gene differentiation that exists among these populations.     

Genetic distances among the five tribal populations of Andhra, Pradesh, South India.

In this paper, data on genetic distances among five tribal populations ae given. Among the five tribes, Koya Dora, Raj Gond and Naikpod are autochthonous populations of the Deccan plateau whereas the other two groups, Pardhan and Lambadi are migrants. Kova Doras were sampled from five distant localities. Genetic markers typed are: A1A2B0, Rho(D) blood group systems glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, transferrin, haptoglobin, groupspecific component, haemoglobin, colour-vision deficiency and tastability to P. T. C. Using frequency data for the above nine genetic loci, genetic distances between the five endogamous tribes, and between the five groups of Koya Dora are calculated by adopting the statistical method of Edwards (1971). While genetic distances between Koya Dora, Raj Gond and Lambadi are minimal, the genetic distance between Pardhans and other tribal groups is maximum. Naikpods occupy an intermediate position. The closeness of Lambadi with Koya Dora and RAJ Gond can be regarded as coincidental. Interestingly, the differences in the genetic distance values between five Koya Dora groups are as great as the differences between the five endogamous tribal populations tested for the same loci. Genetic affinities of these tribal populations are discussed in relation to their ethnic origin migration and geographical isolation.     

Genetic studies among Ramgarhias and Ramdasias of Punjab, North India

This study reports results of investigations on ABO, Rh, haptoglobin and transferrin types in the two hitherto uninvestigated endogamous groups of Punjab, North India. Frequencies for the A, B, and O genes were found to be 0.1711, 0.2566, and 0.5723 in Ramdasias, and 0.1737, 0.2960, and 0.5303 in Ramgarhias. In all 13 Rhesus-negative individuals were encountered. The Hp2 allele shows a high frequency of 0.8060 for Ramdasias, and 0.7860 for Ramgarhias.     

PGM1 subtype polymorphism in 14 endogamous Dravidian-speaking populations of South India

Red cell hemolysates from 1,004 persons belonging to 14 population groups drawn from four South Indian states, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala, were tested for PGM1 subtypes. The groups are characterized by a high frequency of phenotype 1+1+ (range 36.98-71.64%) and the allele 1+ (range 60-79%). The groups exhibit marked heterogeneity for PGM1 locus. The results show a clear demarcation between tribes and Brahmin groups.     

Inbreeding among three endogamous groups in a multicaste village of Andhra Pradesh,India

Abstract

The frequency of consanguineous marriages was studied in three endogamous castes, the Reddis (Kapus), Yadavas (Gollas), and Madigas of Marripadu village in South India. Inbreeding was higher among the Yadavas (Gollas) (0.0312) and Madigas (0.0271) than among the Reddis (Kapus) (0.0154) due to their higher frequencies of uncle‐niece marriages.     

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.     

Inbreeding among endogamous groups in three multicaste villages of Srikakulam district,Andhra Pradesh,India

Abstract

In the present paper 702 families have been studied belonging to different endogamous groups in three multicaste villages of Srikakulam District, Andhra Pradesh. It is observed that 33.76 per cent of families are consanguineous marriages. With regard to the types of marriages, 12.11 per cent are uncle‐niece; 14.10 per cent are matrilateral cross‐cousins; 5.84 per cent are patrilateral cross‐cousins; 0.57 per cent are first cousins once removed, and 1.14 per cent are second cousins. There are only six couples (0.86 per cent) in intercaste marriages. The coefficient of inbreeding for autosomal and sex‐linked genes, 0.045 and 0.059, respectively, for Chakalis which are higher than Kalingas (F = 0.03; F1 = 0.038), Segidis (F = 0.031; F1 = 0.041), Velamas (F = 0.026; F1 = 0.036), Vysyas (F = 0.027; F1 = 0.034), Malas (F = 0.017; F1 = 0.026), and others (F = 0.026; F1 = 0.032). The t‐tests for mean marriage distances are statistically significant among all castes, but chi‐squares for intergroup difference of consanguineous and nonconsanguineous marriages are statistically significant only among Kalingas and Chakalis, Vysyas and Chakalis, and Malas and Chakalis.