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Altitude, language, and class I HLA allele frequencies in Papua New Guinea
Author(s) -
Smith Tom,
Bhatia Kuldeep,
Prasad Madhuri,
Koki George,
Alpers Michael
Publication year - 1994
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.1330950204
Subject(s) - cline (biology) , new guinea , allele frequency , human leukocyte antigen , population , locus (genetics) , altitude (triangle) , geography , natural selection , biology , evolutionary biology , allele , genetics , ethnology , demography , gene , history , sociology , mathematics , geometry , antigen
Class I HLA gene frequencies show considerable variation over short geographical distances in Papua New Guinea. Hypotheses to account for this invoke natural selection, population structure, the pattern of population movement, or past demographic changes. To determine the role of the various factors in shaping this distribution, we have studied correlations between HLA‐based genetic distances, geographical distances, altitude, and linguistic differences in Papua New Guinea. Linguistic differences at the family or stock level within the Trans‐New Guinea Phylum generally correspond to genetic differences. However, on the basis of their HLA gene frequencies, speakers of Austronesian (AN) languages do not form a distinct group of populations. Linguistic variation and spatial autocorrelation do not fully account for the altitudinal cline differences noted in gene frequencies, particularly at the HLA‐A locus. We propose that the distribution of HLA gene frequencies in Papua New Guinea is partially under the control of selection operating differentially along the altitude gradient. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.