title: The beta-globin gene cluster distribution revisited-patterns in Native American populations.
abstract: New frequencies for the beta-globin gene cluster haplotypes are presented for the Aché (N = 82 individuals), Guarani (N = 76), and Kaingang (N = 54), three Native South American populations that live in an area between parallels 20 degrees S and 30 degrees S not covered by previous studies at this locus. The haplotype frequencies obtained for the three populations are within the interval observed for 28 other Native American populations. The Aché show much less haplotypes (five) than the other two populations (9-10), the haplotype prevalences being more similar to those of the Guarani than to the Kaingang. The Native American total heterozygosity was about half (0.41) that obtained for the African populations (0.71), but was not much different from those obtained for other continents. A geographical pattern was disclosed in South America by mapping the frequencies of the most common haplotype (haplotype 2), and by means of spatial correlation analysis. The analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) and pairwise F(ST) data suggest three distinct sectors for the genetic landscape of Native South America: the Andes, the Center/Southeast region, and the Amazon.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Caixa Postal 15053, 91501-970 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. sidia.jacques@ufrgs.br
authors.forename: Sidia M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Callegari-Jacques
authors.forename: Shaiane G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Crossetti
authors.forename: Fabiana B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Kohlrausch
authors.forename: Francisco M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Salzano
authors.forename: Luiza T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Tsuneto
authors.forename: Maria Luiza
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Petzl-Erler
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: A Magdalena
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Hurtado
authors.forename: Mara H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Hutz
mesh_terms: D005787:Gene Frequency; D005843:Geography; D005914:Globins / Q000235:genetics*; D006239:Haplotypes; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D005810:Multigene Family; D010802:Phylogeny
chemical_list: D005914:Globins