Population genetic studies in an isolate of Southern Germany

This study imparts and discusses the results of two random sample studies of 23 hemogenetic systems (blood groups, polymorphisms of serum proteins and erythrocyte enzymes) in an isolate in the Upper Swabian area and in Ulm and its surroundings. The isolate is in an area known as the Lutherische Berge (Lutheran Mountains). It is a Protestant diaspora amidst an almost exclusively Catholic population. For the purpose of comparison, data has been drawn upon from the regions of Freiburg and Düsseldorf. Through the comparison of the four random samples, clear differences between the allele and haplotype frequencies resp. in the isolate population compared to the three other large city populations become evident. This fact is also reflected in the dendrogram for genetic distances according to Rogers. In addition, the possible causes for these differentiations are discussed.