Angiotensin converting enzyme insertion/deletion polymorphism: association with ethnic origin.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the distribution of the insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene in several ethnic groups: Caucasian Europeans, Black Nigerians, Samoan Polynesians and Yanomami Indians.


RESULTS
The ratio of the frequencies of the II, ID and DD genotypes were 1:2:1 in the Europeans, but there was a tendency towards a higher frequency of the D allele in the Nigerians. In contrast, the Samoans and the Yanomami Indians displayed a much higher frequency of the I allele than of the D allele.


CONCLUSIONS
The relationship between ACE genotype and disease in these latter groups is still not known, but the present results clearly suggest that ethnic origin should be carefully considered in the increasing number of studies on the association between I/D ACE genotype and disease aetiology.
Barley
J
J
Medical Genetics Unit, St George's Hospital Medical School, London, UK.
Blackwood
A
A
Carter
N D
ND
Crews
D E
DE
Cruickshank
J K
JK
Jeffery
S
S
Ogunlesi
A O
AO
Sagnella
G A
GA
D000483:Alleles; D044383:Black People; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D017353:Gene Deletion; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D014905:Independent State of Samoa / Q000208:ethnology; D007199:Indians, South American; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000235:genetics*; D044465:White People
D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A