Background : A considerable body of data has been accumulated since the 1960s on protein electrophoretic markers in the Jewish populations of Israel. However, in some Jewish communities and for some markers insufficient information has been available. In addition, studies that tried to explore the genetic affinities of various Jewish populations mainly employed antigenic markers and frequently used a small and unrepresentative number of non-Jewish populations as comparisons. Aim : The primary objectives of the present study were to create a comprehensive database for protein electrophoretic markers in Israel and thereby to explore the genetic affinities of different Jewish populations. Subjects and methods : Published information on red cell enzyme and serum protein polymorphisms in Israeli Jewish populations was combined with new data obtained by protein electrophoresis and DNA PCR (polymerase chain reaction) methods to create the database. The genetic affinities were investigated by two methods. Ten Jew...

Protein electrophoretic markers in Israel: compilation of data and genetic affinities

Phenotype distributions and allele frequencies of 13 blood proteins are presented for the populations of the three Visp valleys, situated in the Swiss Alps. Blood samples of a total of 883 individuals were electrophoretically analysed. The three populations were statistically compared with each other, and with an additional sample from the literature thought to be representative of the entire Swiss population. Statistical differences are revealed and genetic distances are presented. These results are interpreted in connection with differences between the Visp valleys in topological situation.

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E. Ziggiotti

Papers

Genetic polymorphisms in three Alpine populations (Visp valleys, Switerland)