GENETIC DRIFT IN POPULATIONS OF LARESTAN FARS PROVICE, IRAN

Abstract

A total of 2519 blood samples were collected from five distinct populations of Larestan, in Fars province, in Iran (Lar, Gerash, Khour, Latifi and Berake) were examined for ABO and Rh blood groups. The gene frequencies obtained from these samples were compared with the hitherto reported corresponding data from other populations of Fars province to determine the genetic structure of the Larestan populations as a whole. The effects of natural selection, migration and size of populations on the frequencies of ABO alleles in the studied populations are discussed. It appeared that, at least in part, the genetic drift counts for the fluctuations of the A and B gene frequencies in the Gerash, Klour, and Latifi.