title: Genetic variability in the Guahibo population from Venezuela.
abstract: Four communities from Guahibo of Venezuela were analyzed for the genetic variants of nine erythrocyte enzymes and five serum proteins. Of the 14 loci determined, four were monomorphic. Significant frequency differentiation among communities, was present for ESD and TF markers. In general, Guahibo allele frequencies are in the variation ranges described for South American groups. The analysis indicates a relatively higher affinity of Guahibos with other Venezuelan groups within an irregular pattern of genetic distances that are likely related to the complex demographic history of the South American groups. Genetic diversity estimates reveal a moderate degree of genetic structure between the four Guahibo communities. This intra-tribal variability in Guahibo appears to be lower than in Venezuelan Piaroa but higher than in other Amerindians and could be attributed to a combined effect of low population size and relative isolation of communities. At a continental level, the distribution of genetic diversity is consistent with preferential population movements along the eastern and western coastal areas.
authors.affiliation: Universitat de Barcelona, Facultat de Biologia, Department de Biologia Animal, Spain. pmoral@bio.ub.cs
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moral
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marini
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Esteban
authors.forename: Giuseppa Elisa
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Mameli
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Succa
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vona
mesh_terms: D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D004798:Enzymes / Q000235:genetics; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000201:enzymology; D005787:Gene Frequency; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005828:Genetics, Population; D006801:Humans; D007199:Indians, South American / Q000235:genetics*; D014687:Venezuela / Q000208:ethnology
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D004798:Enzymes