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The anthropogenetic structure of six island and peninsular populations (Brac, Hvar, Korcula, Peljesac, Silba, and Olib) of the eastern Adriatic, Croatia, is analyzed on the basis of the study of four different erythrocyte antigen systems or groups (ABO, Rhesus, Kell-Celano, P) and two erythrocyte isoenzyme systems (ACP, ESD). The average sample size was 555 individuals. Allele frequencies, genetic distances, and gene diversity values were computed. The results indicate that all the populations in question have preserved their separate characteristics over the course of their (micro)evolution to the present day; this is especially noticeable for the island populations of Korcula and Olib, as these are distinguished from the other four populations by a greater degree of isolation. Today's genetic structure of the six populations can be explained through the existing historical and cultural data for the region in question, which indicate that over the course of their ethnohistory they were all influenced by significant waves of immigration and selective emigrations that must have greatly shaped their present-day population structure., Isolates provide unique opportunities to explore genetic variation effects on population structure. The term isolate is often used to describe a small, reproductively closed island population where breeding and geographic [...]

Isoelectric focusing was performed to analyze PGM1 polymorphism in six tribal, five caste, and five Muslim populations from the Indian subcontinent. Although a considerable range of allele frequencies was observed in certain caste and Muslim groups, the phenotypic distribution showed significant genetic heterogeneity only among the tribal groups. Discriminant analysis suggests that the PGM1 locus provides useful anthropogenetic information to differentiate the populations of the subcontinent in terms of their social structure. In the three population groups studied the variation in the heterozygosity levels suggests that the genetic diversity at the PGM1 locus may be the result of the structure of various population groups., Among the various enzyme polymorphisms the microheterogeneity found at the PGM1 locus has proved highly useful in genetic and anthropological studies (Papiha et al. 1983; Dykes et al. 1983; Kamboh [...]

Abstract Background Recent advances in the understanding of the maternal and paternal heritage of south and southwest Asian populations have highlighted their role in the colonization of Eurasia by anatomically modern humans. Further understanding requires a deeper insight into the topology of the branches of the Indian mtDNA phylogenetic tree, which should be contextualized within the phylogeography of the neighboring regional mtDNA variation. Accordingly, we have analyzed mtDNA control and coding region variation in 796 Indian (including both tribal and caste populations from different parts of India) and 436 Iranian mtDNAs. The results were integrated and analyzed together with published data from South, Southeast Asia and West Eurasia. Results Four new Indian-specific haplogroup M sub-clades were defined. These, in combination with two previously described haplogroups, encompass approximately one third of the haplogroup M mtDNAs in India. Their phylogeography and spread among different linguistic phyla and social strata was investigated in detail. Furthermore, the analysis of the Iranian mtDNA pool revealed patterns of limited reciprocal gene flow between Iran and the Indian sub-continent and allowed the identification of different assemblies of shared mtDNA sub-clades. Conclusions Since the initial peopling of South and West Asia by anatomically modern humans, when this region may well have provided the initial settlers who colonized much of the rest of Eurasia, the gene flow in and out of India of the maternally transmitted mtDNA has been surprisingly limited. Specifically, our analysis of the mtDNA haplogroups, which are shared between Indian and Iranian populations and exhibit coalescence ages corresponding to around the early Upper Paleolithic, indicates that they are present in India largely as Indian-specific sub-lineages. In contrast, other ancient Indian-specific variants of M and R are very rare outside the sub-continent.

Background: Recent advances in the understanding of the maternal and paternal heritage of south and southwest Asian populations have highlighted their role in the colonization of Eurasia by anatomically modern humans. Further understanding requires a deeper insight into the topology of the branches of the Indian mtDNA phylogenetic tree, which should be contextualized within the phylogeography of the neighboring regional mtDNA variation. Accordingly, we have analyzed mtDNA control and coding region variation in 796 Indian (including both tribal and caste populations from different parts of India) and 436 Iranian mtDNAs. The results were integrated and analyzed together with published data from South, Southeast Asia and West Eurasia. Results: Four new Indian-specific haplogroup M sub-clades were defined. These, in combination with two previously described haplogroups, encompass approximately one third of the haplogroup M mtDNAs in India. Their phylogeography and spread among different linguistic phyla and social strata was investigated in detail. Furthermore, the analysis of the Iranian mtDNA pool revealed patterns of limited reciprocal gene flow between Iran and the Indian sub-continent and allowed the identification of different assemblies of shared mtDNA sub-clades. Conclusions: Since the initial peopling of South and West Asia by anatomically modern humans, when this region may well have provided the initial settlers who colonized much of the rest of Eurasia, the gene flow in and out of India of the maternally transmitted mtDNA has been surprisingly limited. Specifically, our analysis of the mtDNA haplogroups, which are shared between Indian and Iranian populations and exhibit coalescence ages corresponding to around the early Upper Paleolithic, indicates that they are present in India largely as Indian-specific sub-lineages. In contrast, other ancient Indian-specific variants of M and R are very rare outside the sub-continent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]