| Abstract: | It was shown that on comparing variability of selective neutral genetic marker systems with that of the beta-thalassemia system for the populations of different hierarchical level, the relative importance of selection and genetic drift could be evaluated. The genetic differentiation of the beta-thalassemia gene frequencies in elementary populations (villages) could be solely explained by genetic drift. On the other hand, the differentiation of district populations (the sizes of the populations being 10(6] for beta-thalassemia gene frequencies could be explained by selection forces. This is supported by the fact that the genetic distances and FST values are only significant for the beta-thalassemia gene and not for the neutral genetic systems, when the district populations are compared. |
