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Genetic polymorphisms in isolated Sherpa populations of Nepal
Author(s) -
Bangham Charles R.M.,
Howarth S. E.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
american journal of physical anthropology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.146
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1096-8644
pISSN - 0002-9483
DOI - 10.1002/ajpa.1330530308
Subject(s) - abo blood group system , biology , allele , polymorphism (computer science) , low altitude , incidence (geometry) , genetics , evolutionary biology , altitude (triangle) , gene , geometry , mathematics , physics , optics
Data are reported on the incidence of variants in the ABO blood group system, four red cell enzyme polymorphisms, and the PTU taster/non‐taster polymorphism in 155 Sherpas and Tamangs living in two villages in the isolated Rolwaling valley in east Nepal. The incidence of phenotype AB was unexpectedly high in one village, as has been reproted insome other high‐altitude populations: possible causes are discussed. Each of the other polymorphisms has a different pattern of distribution between the populations studied; the Sherpas' allele distribution in the phosphoglucomutase (PGM) system seems to be distinct from the surrounding populations'. ABO gene frequencies suggest affinities between Sherpas in the study villages and old‐ and new‐clan Sherpa populations, respectively, in Solu and Khumbu.