1. Geographical and social influences on genetic diversity within the Egyptian population: analyses of Alu insertion polymorphisms.
- Author
-
Salem AH, Bahri R, Jarjanazi H, and Chaabani H
- Subjects
- Arabs, Egypt, Genetic Markers, Humans, Molecular Sequence Data, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Sequence Analysis, DNA, Alu Elements, Mutagenesis, Insertional, Polymorphism, Genetic
- Abstract
Background: The geographical location of Egypt at the crossroads of several major cultural areas between North Africa and the Middle East has contributed to its population history., Aim: To analyse the genetic structure of the population living in two geographical parts of Egypt., Subjects and Methods: A sample of 112 Egyptians from the North African part of Egypt (Ismailia sample) and a sample of 52 Egyptians from the Asian part Sinai, have been analysed using 10 Alu insertion polymorphisms., Results: The results of the present study showed a significant genetic difference between the Sinai and Ismailia samples. The latter showed an evident genetic affinity with North African populations; whereas the Sinai sample was found to be genetically closer to the Middle East populations. The Sinai sample showed a low average heterozygosity, unlike that found in the Ismailia sample., Conclusion: This study provides new insights into the genetic structure of the Egyptian population living in a land bridge between Africa and Asia. Results suggest a genetic discontinuity between the Sinai population and that of the North African part of Egypt. This discontinuity would have been maintained thanks to geo-climatic and social factors.
- Published
- 2014
- Full Text
- View/download PDF