A GENETIC STUDY OF IRANIAN POPULATIONS: SERUM PROTEINS

Abstract

A total of 1611 serum samples collected from ten ethnically distinct populations of Iran (Turks and Kurds of Rezaieh, Lurs, Zabolis, Baluchis, Turks and Kurds of Shirvan, Zoroastrians, Tehranis and Kermanis) were examined for haptoglobin, transrferrin and the third component of complement systems. The gene frequencies obtained of these samples were combined with those of the previous studies of other Iranian groups to determine the genetic structure of the Iranian population as a whole. The population of Iran was then compared with reported frequencies for neighboring populations as well as with those for European and Indian groups. The generalized feature of serum protein gene frequencies for the whole country of about 27% HP1, 13% CF 3 and the predominance of the Tf D to the Tf B allele, all show a departure from the values found in the countries to the west and an approach to those in the Indian region.