GLOBIN GENES IN POLYNESIANS HAVE MANY REARRANGEMENTS INCLUDING A RECENTLY DESCRIBED GAMMA-GAMMA-GAMMA-GAMMA

  • 1 September 1986
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 39  (3) , 350-360
Abstract
Rearrangements involving genes of the .alpha.- and .beta.-globin loci were frequently detected in DNA from Polynesians. A further effect and genetic drift occurring 2,000-3,000 years ago as Polynesians migrated eastward across the Pacific is proposed as the likely mechanism for these genetic changes that include deletions or additions of .alpha.-, .gamma.-, and .zeta.-globin genes and an unusual restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) associated with the .zeta. gene. Preliminary data show different frequencies for gene rearrangements between island groups. Further study of these differences should provide additional information on the prehistory of Polynesians.