BIODEMOGRAPHY AND GENETICS OF THE BERBA OF BENIN

Genetic structure of the Berba of Benin was studied on the basis of bi odemographic data and ABO, RH, MNS, KEL, JK, FY, ACP1, ADA, AK1, CA2, ESD, GLO1, G6PD, PGD, PGM1 (subtypes and thermostability), PGM2, PGP, SODA, HB alpha, HB beta, HB delta, BF, C3, and HP gene frequencies. Co mparisons were carried out with other populations of Benin and of sub- Saharan Africa. Correspondence analysis revealed genetic differentiati on among the three main groups of populations who inhabit sub-Saharan Africa: Bushmen-Hottentots, Pygmies, and Negroes. The genetic differen tiation of the Negroes in relation to their linguistic affiliation and geographic localization was evident. The first group included the pop ulations belonging to the Bantoid subfamily of the Nigritic linguistic stock living in southern Africa; in the second subcluster the populat ions of central-eastern Africa were localized, and the third subcluste r included the populations living in the West. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, In c.