Gm and Inv (Km) studies of melanesian people on the Huon Peninsula in northeast Papua New Guinea: Polymorphism for a Gm1,5,10,11,13,14,17,21,26 haplotype

Blood samples from 448 people living in six villages in the Huon Peninsula in northeast Papua, New Guinea, were tested for Gm(1,2,3,5,6,10,11,13,14,17,21,24,26) and Inv(1) [Km(1)]. All the people are non-Austronesian (NAN) speakers. As expected, there was a low frequency of the Gm^{1,3,5,10,11,13,14,26} haplotype, but in contradiction to expectations there was a complete absence of the Gm^1,2,17,21,26 haplotype. In addition, samples from people in one village (Yupna) and probably those for two other villages (Irumu 13 and 14) have the rare haplotype Gm^{1,5,10,11,13,14,21,26} at polymorphic frequencies. Two samples from people living in Yupna had the rare phenotype Gm(1,3,17,21,26), indicating the presence of any one of several rare haplotypes that had been observed in other populations. These are discussed.     

Gm and Km allotypes in four Sardinian population samples

Serum samples of 683 unrelated male and female individuals of four Sardinian population samples (Sassari, Nuoro, Oristano and Cagliari) were typed for G 1 m (1, 2, 3, 17), G 3 m (5, 6, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 21, 26), and Km (1). Phenotype, haplotype (Gm), and allele frequencies (Km), respectively, show a remarkable variability between these four population samples. Comparisons with other Italian populations reveal the considerable genetic difference of the Sardinians, which is in particular caused by the presence of the haplotype Gm^{1, 3, 5, 10, 11, 13, 14, 26} in them. This haplotype is quite uncommon in Europeans and may reflect gene flow from Eastern populations (Phoenicians?) who came to this island in ancient-history times.     

Gm and Km allotypes in 74 Chinese populations: a hypothesis of the origin of the Chinese nation

Summary This paper reports the distribution of immunoglobulin Gm and Km allotypes in 74 Chinese geographical populations. These populations are derived from 24 nationalities comprising 96.6% of the total population of China. A total of 9,560 individuals were phenotyped for Gm(1,2,3,5,21) factors, and 9,611 were phenotyped for Km(1). Phylogenetic trees were constructed on the basis of Gm haplotype frequencies and genetic distances. The results of cluster analysis show the heterogeneity of the Chinese nation, and confirm the hypothesis that the modern Chinese nation originated from two distinct populations, one population originating in the Yellow River valley and the other originating in the Yangtze River valley during early neolithic times (3,000–7,000 years ago). Frequencies of the Gm haplotype of 74 Chinese populations were compared with those of 33 populations from major racial groups. The results suggest that during human evolution, the Negroid group and Caucasoid-Mongoloid group diverged first, followed by a divergence between the Caucasoid and Mongoloid. Interrace divergence is high in comparison with intrarace divergence. There appear to be two distinct subgroups of Mongoloid, northern and southern Mongoloid. The northern and southern Mongoloid have Gm^1;21 and Gm^1,3;5 haplotypes as race-associate markers, respectively. Furthermore, the Caucasian-associated haplotype Gm^3;5 was found in several of the minorities living in the northwest part of China. The presence of the Gm^3;5 haplotype is attributed to the Caucasians living in Central Asia throughout the Silk Road. The amount of Caucasian admixture has been estimated. In contrast to the Gm haplotype distribution, Km¹ gene frequencies showed a random distribution in the populations studied.     

Gammaglobulin groups (Gm and Inv) of various Southern African populations

Data are presented on the distribution of the Gm and Inv groups in approximately 3500 individuals belonging to a number of diverse Southern African populations. The indigenous peoples show the presence of the Gm alleles known to occur in Negroes (Gm^{1, 5, 13, 14}, Gm^{1, 5, 6, 14} and Gm^{1, 5, 6}) but the Bushmen possess some of them in very low frequencies and have, in addition and in appreciable frequencies the Gm¹ and Gm^{1, 13} alleles which have not been reported as occurring in West African populations. The distribution of the Gm^{1, 13} allele in various Bantu-speaking tribes of the sub-continent reveals a marked cline, increasing from north to south along the eastern seaboard. The correlation between the frequency of Gm^{1, 13} and the Khoisan morphological, features present in a number of the tribes, and with the linguistic evidence which has been used to group them is high. The Bushmen possess a Gm^{1, 5} allele and may also have a Gm^{1, 5, 13, 14, 17, 21} allele. A Gm^{1, 2, 5, 13, 14, 17} allele seems to be present in the Bantu. Its presence in Eastern New Guinea would also appear to be indicated by the population data presented here.     

Immunoglobulins in the Eastern Carolines

Serum samples from Micronesian populations on the Pingelap, Mokil, Ponape and Kusaie islands were tested for the immunoglobulin G (IgG) allotypes, Gm (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 13, 14, 21), and for Inv (1). All four populations have the Gm phenogroups, Gm^1,21, Gm^1,2,21, Gm^1,3,5,13,14, and Gm^1,5,6. The Ponapeans have Gm^1,5,13,14 also. Pedigree analysis shows that the Gm^1,5,6 phenogroup in the Pingelap and Mokil populations is derived from the single offspring of a member of a crew of a whaling ship and that the Gm^1,2,21 phenogroup was introduced by three non-native individuals. The Gm allotypes indicate that the Ponapean and Kusiean populations also have phenogroups from other races, and historical data show that there has been adequate opportunity for this to have occurred. Only the phenogroups Gm^1,21 and Gm^1,5,13,14 appear to be endemic to eastern Micronesia.     

Restriction fragment length polymorphisms associated with immunoglobulin heavy chain gamma genes in Tunisians

Summary DNA polymorphisms in the human immunoglobulin gamma () region have been studied in random Arabo-Berber Tunisians and in a large Tunisian Berber kindred. Haplotypes have then been designated, based on variation in the BamHI restriction fragments containing the C1, C2, C4, and C genes. Two new haplotypes, in addition to the four previously described, have been observed. These new haplotypes, designated H5 and H6, were confirmed by family studies. The H5 haplotype was associated with black African Gm haplotypes · (Gm^{1,17;..;5,6,11} and Gm^1,17;..;5,11) (Gm^{a,z;..;blc3bo} and Gm^a,z;..;blbo) and probably represents a common haplotype in the black population. The haplotype H6 may be derived from H5. One of 39 random Tunisians was homozygous for a multigene deletion. DNA polymorphisms of the C genes, in conjuction with Gm markers, provide highly variable genetic markers important for the characterization of human populations.     

Gm and Inv [Km] allotypes among Libyan and Ashkenazi Jews,and Armenians living in Israel

Summary Serum samples from Armenians, and from Libyan and Ashkenazi Jews living in Israel were tested for Gm (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 11, 13, 14, 17, 21, 24, 26) and for Inv(1) [Km(1)].The Gm data indicate that all three populations have Negroid and Mongoloid admixture. The minimum amount of admixture varies from 3.1% (Armenians) to 5.5% (Libyan Jews). This admixture had not been detected by the study of other polymorphisms, thus once again underlining the sensitivity of the Gm system. The haplotype frequencies among the Libyan Jews are markedly different from those among the Ashkenazi Jews. Surprisingly (coincidentally?) the haplotype frequencies among the Ashkenazi Jews and the Armenians are similar.The Libyan Jews have a significantly higher frequency of Inv ¹ than do the Ashkenazi Jews and among the latter, Inv ¹ is at least twice as frequent among Polish Jews as it is among Russian Jews.     

Gm and Inv studies on baboons, Papio cynocephalus: analysis of serum samples from Kenya, Ethiopia and South Africa.

Serum samples from 526 baboons (Papio cynocephalus) from 10 troops from the Laikipia district of northern Kenya, from 60 baboons from two troops from the Awash National Park, central Ethiopia, and from 127 baboons from South Africa were tested for Gm and Inv allotypes. Four of the 10 troops from Kenya formed a western cluster and six formed an eastern cluster. The clusters were separated by approximately 10 miles. The samples were tested for Gm (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 21, 24) and for Inv (1, 2, 3). All samples were negative for Gm (2, 6, 14, 16, 24). All from Kenya and Ethiopia were negative for Inv (2), and all were positive for Gm (11, 17) and for Inv (3). The south African samples differed from the others in that 10 were negative for Gm (11) and four were positive for Inv (2). Taking all animals into account, polymorphism was present for Gm (1, 3, 5, 11, 13, 15, 21) and for Inv (1, 2). No two Kenya troops had the same array of phenotypes or of haplotypes, but the four western troops were more similar to each other than to the six eastern troops. Three haplotypes were present in the eastern troops that were not present in the western troops and five were present in the western troops that were not present in the eastern troops. Five haplotypes appeared in at least some troops of each cluster of troops. The samples from each of the two troops from Ethiopia show the same three phenotypes but with significantly different frequencies. It is suggested that the variation in haplotype frequencies observed among the 10 troops from Kenya is the result of a founder effect deriving largely from fission of a large troop into two smaller troops. The data show that speculations about the evolutionary origin of the allotypes are premature. For most species, too few animals have been tested and except for those in this study their origins are not known. Finally, the samples have been from too restricted an area.     

Immunoglobulin (GM and KM) allotypes in the Sikh population of India

The populations of India are genetically diverse, both within and between geographic regions; immunoglobulin (GM) allotypes provide important information on genetic differences between populations, since the frequencies of combinations of allotypes (termed "haplotypes") vary dramatically among ethnic groups. As part of a project to assess genetic diversity among defined Indian populations, we have examined eight GM allotypes in a sample of 101 unrelated Sikhs who have migrated to Toronto, Canada: Glm(1, 2, 3, 17) and G3m (5, 15, 16, 21). Sikhs are a religious group that arose in the Punjab about 1500 A.D.; most of the original converts are believed to have been middle to upper-middle caste Hindus. Gm allotyping showed that six Gm haplotypes occurred at polymorphic frequencies (greater than 0.01) in Sikhs: Gm3;5, Gm1,17;21, Gm1,2,17;21, Gm1,17;5, Gm1,17;15,16, and Gm1,3;5. These haplotypes have all been previously reported in Indian populations. The frequencies of the first four haplotypes resembled the published frequencies for lower-caste Hindus of NW India more than upper-caste Hindus. However, the last two haplotypes have been found only in upper-caste Hindus. The frequency of one of these, Gm1,17;15,16 was higher in Sikhs (0.09) than has been reported in any Indian population with the exception of Parsis (who are descended from Iranians). We speculate that the high frequency of this haplotype may have been characteristic of some of the Hindu castes in the Punjab from which Sikhs are descended.     

The ethnological significance of the gamma-globulin (Gm) factors in melanesia

A study was made of the distribution of the immunoglobulin markers Gm(a), (x), (z), (f), (g), (b⁰), (b¹), (b³), (s), (t), (c³), (c⁵) and Inv (1) and Inv (a) in 906 individuals sampled from several population groups living in various parts of New Guinea and New Britain. A study of 123 families confirmed the presence of the following gene complexes: Gm^za;g, Gm^zax;g, Gm^za;b and Gm^fa;b. Gm(s), (t), (c³) and (c⁵) were absent and either all or none of Gm(b⁰), (b¹) and (b³) present. Striking differences occurred in the geographical and ethnic distribution of the Gm gene complexes. Gm^fa;g was either absent or in very low frequency, and Gm^za;b, Gm^zax;g and Gm^za;g were present in varying frequencies in both the highland and western coastal populations in the mainland of New Guinea. All of these populations spoke non-Austronesian languages. On the other hand Gm^fa;b was present in the Melanesian-speaking Motu of the Central District of the mainland, in the Melanesian-speaking Tolai and the non-Austronesian-speaking Sulka and Baining of the island of New Britain. It is suggested that Gm^fa;b and Gm^za;b are respectively Malayo-Polynesian and pre-Austronesian markers, although a clear cut distinction between modern populations derived from these stocks is often blurred by the effects of gene flow and drift. Considerable ethnic and geographical variation was also found in the distribution of Inv(1) and Inv(a). In two Highland NAN-speaking populations the Inv(1⁺a⁺) phenotype percentages were 1.0 and 5.4, whilst percentages ranging from 0.0 to 56.4% were found for coastal MN-speaking populations. The percentages of Inv(1⁺a⁺) in the total MN- and NAN-speaking populations were 31.6 and 10.0 respectively.     

A new human allotype carried by the γG3 subclass: Gm(25)

Summary The Gm(25) allotype has been tested on sera from various populations. It is closely related to Gm(5), Gm(10), Gm(11), and Gm(14) in Caucasoids, and to Gm(10) and Gm(11) in Mongoloids, but it distinguishes itself in Negroids where the Gm(5, 10, 11, 14,-25) phenotype is present with a frequency depending on the regions studied. It was demonstrated to be carried by the Fc fragment of G₂ Gm(5, 10, 11, 14). In a Caucasoid family it was possible to demonstrate the transmission of a rare gene, Gm^{1,10,11,17, 25}. Among Old World Monkeys Gm(25) is present in Baboons and absent in Cercopitheci.

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Résumé L'allotype Gm(25) a été étudié sur des sérums de populations variées. Il est lié aux Gm(5), Gm(10), Gm(11) et Gm(14) chez les Blancs, aux Gm(10) et Gm(11) chez les Jaunes, mais il s'en distingue chez les Noirs où se retrouve le phénotype Gm(5,10,11,14,-25) avec une fréquence variable selon les régions. Il est présent sur le fragment Fc des G₃ Gm(5,10,11, 14). Dans une famille Caucasoide nous démontrons la transmission du rare gène Gm ^{1,10,11,17,25}. L'étude sur des Singes de l'Ancien Monde démontre que le Gm(25) est présent chez les Babouins et absent chez les Cercopithèques.

     

Gm and Km immunoglobulin allotypes in Reindeer Chukchi and Siberian Eskimos

Summary Blood samples from 403 Reindeer Chukchi of inland Chukotka, and 100 samples from Chaplin Eskimos of the Chukot Peninsula were tested for G1m (z,a,x,f), G2m (n), G3m (g,b0,b1,b3,b5,s,t), and Km (1) allotypic determinants. An apparent affinity between the Chukchi and the Eskimos could be inferred from similar frequencies of the two common haplotypes, Gm^za;g and Gm^za;bst, and from very similar frequencies of the Km¹ allele. However, none of the Eskimos had Gm^zax;g, though it occurred at a low or moderate frequency in the five Chukchi populations studied. It is assumed that Chukchi can be distinguished from adjoining Eskimos by the same G1m (x) outlier, that has been considered as a taxonomic marker useful in differentiating between Eskimos and American Indians. Comparison of North Asian and North American populations with respect to the array and frequencies of Gm haplotypes and the Km¹ allele, supports the hypothesis of a nonrandom distribution of the Gm^za;bst and Km¹ on both sides of the Bering Strait.     

Gammaglobulin allotypes of Melanesians from Malaita and Bougainville, Solomon Islands

Data are presented on the distribution of the Gm and Inv allotypes of human IgG in samples from Melanesian populations, three from Malaita and three from Bougainville of the Solomon Islands. The Lau from Malaita are polymorphic for the phenogroup, Gm^{1, 2, 5, 13, 14}. This phenogroup is not known to be polymorphic in any other population of the world. The Inv¹ frequencies of the populations from Malaita are lower than the lowest observed in samples from Bougainville, and this may indicate an extension of the north-south cline for Inv¹ previously reported for Bougainville. Samples from Aita in the north of Bougainville and from the Nagovisi in the south confirm the existence of the north-south cline for Inv¹ in Bougainville and suggest the presence of a Gm cline.     

Studies on serum groups in the Kumaon region,India

Summary A total of 469 individuals belonging to 4 endogamous groups (Brahamins, Rajputs, Doms and Tharus) from the Kumaon region (North India) were tested for Hp, Gc, Gm and Inv systems.The frequency of the Hp¹ allele is low (0.130–0.220) in all 4 groups as in the case of other Indian populations. The absence of the Gm⁵ allele and high frequency of Inv(1) (49.34%) confirm the Mongoloid affiliations of the Tharus. Brahamins, Rajputs and Doms possess 4 alleles (Gm¹, Gm^1,2, Gm^1,5 and Gm⁵) at the Gm locus and the frequency of Gm^1,2 allele is very low (0.067–0.106) for these groups. The frequency of Inv(1) for Brahamins (19.61%) and Doms (22.78%) lies within the range of variation of European populations. Rajputs, however, show a higher Inv(1) frequency (38.76%).Genetic distances calculated with the help of Hp, Gc and Gm systems demonstrate similarity between Brahamins, Rajputs and Doms and a deviant position for the Tharus.Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.     

Immunoglobulin (Gm) allotypes in a sample of Canadian Ashkenazic Jews

Gm typing on the serum specimens of 507 Ashkenazic Jews (pre-dominantly of Polish-Russian ancestry) from Toronto, Canada has established the presence of haplotypes Gm3;5, Gm1;21, Gm1,2;21, and Gm1,17;5, and the absence of haplotypes Gm1;13,15,16, Gm1;5,6, and Gm1;5,6,24 which have been found in other Jewish peoples. It is suggested that Ashkenazic populations have lower frequencies of haplotype Gm1,17;5 than non-European Jewish populations, and that some eastern European Jewish populations have acquired the Gm1;13,15,16 haplotype through gene flow from Central Asia. Thus Jewish populations show differences in the Gm system; many of the differences may be in the direction of similarities to neighbouring non-Jewish populations.     

Observations on the distribution of the Gm- and Inv-groups in Hungary

Summary The authors report the distribution of Gm- and Inv-groups in Hungary. In our total material of 378 males and females of different age, the frequency of the following Gm-phenotypes turned out: Gm (1, 2, 4, 5, 10)=4.1%, Gm(1,-2, 4, 5, 10)=25.3%, Gm(1,-2,-4,-5,-10)=3.4%, Gm(1, 2,-4,-5,-10)=0.4%, and Gm(-1,-2, 4, 5, 10)=66.8%. The alleles frequencies have been calculated to be Gm¹=0.1622, Gm^{1, 2}=0.0228, Gm^{4, 5, 10}=0.8150. Observed and expected Gm-phenotypes frequencies are in good agreement under the assumption of the 3-alleles-model Gm¹, Gm^{1, 2}, Gm^{4, 5, 10}. The Invphenotypes frequencies came out to be: Inv(1,-2)=0.5$, Inv(1,2)=8.2%, and Inv(-1,-2)=91.3%.Among our Hungarian samples no significant differences were found, neither in the distribution of Gm-nor Inv-phenotypes and alleles. There exist no significant differences in the distribution of Inv-groups between our Hungarian sample and two German samples, but the Hungarian sample differs clearly from Czechoslovakian and Yugoslavian ones in the distribution of the Gm-phenotypes.Supported by a grant from the Caisse Nationale de Sécurité Sociale.Attaché de Recherche á l'I.N.S.E.R.M.     

Distribution of Gm and Km allotypes among five populations in China

Serum samples from five populations in China [173 from Huhehote (Naimengu Zhizhiqu), 195 from the Beijing area, 131 from Hefei (Anhui Province), 155 from Hangzhou (Zhejiang Province), and 152 from Guangzhou (Guangdong Province)] were tested for G1m(1, 2, 3, and 17), G2m(23), G3m(5, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 21, and 26), and Km(1). The Gm pattern of the Chinese populations are characterized by the presence of four haplotypes, Gm1, 17;..;21, 26, Gm1, 2, 17;..;21, 26, Gm1, 17;..;10, 11, 13, 15, 16, and Gm1, 3;23;5, 10, 11, 13, 14, 26, which are characteristic of Mongoloid populations. Agreement was obtained in all Chinese samples between the observed and expected frequencies on the basis of the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium of phenotypes. Heterogeneity tests of the haplotypic distributions among the five populations showed no significant differences in the distributions of Gm phenotypes between Huhehote and Beijing nor between Hefei and Hangzhou, whereas highly significant differences were observed among the three districts: northern part (Huhehote and Beijing), central part (Hefei and Hangzhou), and southern part (Guangzhou). The data indicate a south to north genocline, ranging from Huhehote to Guangzhou in which Gm1, 17;..;21, 26 changes from 0.471 to 0.183, Gm1, 17;..;10, 11, 13, 15, 16 from 0.097 to 0.033, and Gm1, 3;23;5, 10, 11, 13, 14, 26 from 0.229 to 0.730. In contrast to the Gm system, no significant regional differences in the frequencies of the Km1 allele were observed among the five populations.     

Brief communication: immunoglobulin (Gm and Km) allotypes in two populations of Catalonia (Spain)

Serum samples from two populations of Catalonia, Spain, 208 from Olot (Gerona) and 209 from Tortosa (Tarragona), were typed for G1m (1, 2, 3, 17), G3m (5, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 26), and Km (1). The Gm patterns of the Catalonian populations are characterized by the presence of four haplotypes, Gm 1,17;21,26 Gm 1,2,17;21,26 Gm 1,3;5,10,11,13,14,26 and Gm 3;5,10,11,13,14,26. The homogeneity for haplotype Gm 1,17;21,26 among our data and other European populations suggests the existence of an isofrequency line which starts from the Mediterranean zone of Iberian Peninsula and continues through the northwestern part of Europe. From this line a decreasing cline towards the south can be observed. For the haplotype Gm 1,2;17,21,26, affinities are observed between Catalonian populations and other populations from central Europe. This confirms the existence of a gradient towards low values from NW to SE. The presence of the typical Mongoloid haplotype Gm 1,3;5,10,11,13,14,26 is discussed in this paper. No significant differences in the frequencies of the Km1 allele were observed among the European populations.     

Population genetic studies of the Philippine Negritos. II. gm and km allotypes of three population groups.

Serum samples of the three tribal Negrito populations in the Philippine Islands (127 from Zambales, 87 from Bataan, and 93 from Agusan) were tested for Glm(1,2,3 and 17), and G3m(5,6,11,13,14,15,16, and 21), and Km(1). The GMpatterm of the Negritos is characterized by three haplotypes, Gm1,17;21, Gm1,2,17;21, and Gm1,3;5,11,13,14, which is also characteristic of Mongoloid-related populations, especially with high incidence of the latter haplotype. They also have the haplotype, Gm1,17;5,13,14, prevalent in Africa, New Guinea, and northern Australia, suggesting an ancient link between the Negritos and the New Guinean-Australian group. Two unusual samples of G3m(15) positive without G3m(16) observed in Zambales Negritos suggest the presence of Gm1,17;5,11,13,14,15 haplotype in the population. This appears to be unique to Zambales Negritos and the first such samples to be found.     

Serumprotein polymorphisms in Iran

Summary The results of a population genetic investigation on Iranians are given and compared to the results obtained on other populations from Southwestern and Southern Asia. Our total material from Iran comprises n=1020 nonrelated male and female individuals of different age. The following serum groups have been typed: Hp, Gc, Gm, and Inv. In general there exist no remarkable age or sex differences in the distribution of phenotypes and alleles (the only exception: sex differences in the distribution of the Gm (7)-phenotype). The regional distribution of phenotypes and alleles yield no marked differences, too, apart from the Invphenotypes, however. For the total material of Iran the following alleles frequencies could be calculated: Hp¹=0.3045, Hp²=0.6595, Gc²=0.3405; Gm¹=0.1780, Gm^1,2=0.0537, Gm^1,5=0.0632, Gm⁵=0.7051. The Gm (7)-phenotype turned out to be 36.6%; the Inv (1)-phenotype amounts to 25.6%. Comparing with other populations, especially Pakistani and Indian samples, some heterogeneity in the distribution of phenotypes and alleles within Southwestern and Southern Asia was to be demonstrated. Some distributional trends of alleles frequencies shall be mentioned here: the increase of Hp², Gc¹, and Gm¹ alleles from West towards East, and in the opposite direction the decrease of Hp¹, Gc², and Gm⁵ alleles. Selective acting forces are supposed to be most important factors for this. D77