AN ANTHROPOGENETIC STUDY ON THE OROMO AND AMHARA OF CENTRAL ETHIOPIA

Blood samples from members of the Oromo and Amhara ethnic groups of ce ntral Ethiopia were tested for 10 erythrocyte protein systems: ACP1, A DA, AK1, CA2, ESD, G6PD, GLO1, HB beta, PGD, and PGM1. Differences bet ween the two samples were relatively slight and not statistically sign ificant. Gene frequency distributions were then analyzed in the contex t of the genetics of the African and Arabian peoples. Considering the erythrocyte enzyme data, the Oromo and Amhara appear quite similar to Europoids (particularly to the South Arabians) and considerably differ ent from the Negritic peoples. There is evidence for close genetic aff inity among the Cushitic- and Semitic-speaking population groups of th e Kern. Admixture between Europoid and Negritic populations seems to h ave been the main microevolutionary factor in generating the present d ay Cushitic (and Semitic)-speaking group of eastern Africa. The result s are consistent with the hypothesis, supported by historical and ling uistic evidence, for a common origin of these groups from a Cushitic-s peaking group living in eastern Africa. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.