Blood group gene frequencies of four population groups in the western Cape.
Blood group gene frequencies of 4 population groups in the western Cape region of South Africa were determined. The ABO, MNSs, Rhesus, Kell and Duffy blood group systems were studied in 2,094 non-Malay Cape Coloureds, 1,181 South African (SA) Negroes, 506 SA Caucasoids and 115 Cape Malays. The gene frequencies of these 4 population groups together with, for comparative purposes, previously published data on 3 others, namely Johannesburg Coloureds, Khoikhoi and San, were used to measure the genetic distances between them. In addition, multivariate analysis was used in an attempt to clarify whether the 2 coloured and the Cape Malay samples resemble each other, and to demonstrate the relationships between the 7 population groups. Although genetic distance measurements suggest that Johannesburg Coloureds have a greater SA Negro contribution to their gene pool than the Cape Coloureds, the results are in accordance with previous studies suggesting that coloureds in southern Africa form a relatively homogeneous group. The allele frequencies in the Rhesus and Duffy blood group systems suggest that Cape Malays, although similar in some respects to the Cape Coloureds, are a genetically distinct group.
May
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Provincial Laboratory for Tissue Immunology, Provincial Administration of the Cape of Good Hope.
du Toit
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D000017:ABO Blood-Group System / Q000235:genetics; D044383:Black People / Q000235:genetics*; D001789:Blood Group Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D004375:Duffy Blood-Group System / Q000235:genetics; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006801:Humans; D007626:Kell Blood-Group System / Q000235:genetics; D008951:MNSs Blood-Group System / Q000235:genetics; D010641:Phenotype; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System / Q000235:genetics; D013019:South Africa; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics*
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D001789:Blood Group Antigens; D004375:Duffy Blood-Group System; D007626:Kell Blood-Group System; D008951:MNSs Blood-Group System; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System