GENETIC-STRUCTURE OF POPULATIONS IN WESTERN TYROL

ABO, MNSs, and RH blood groups of 920 indigenous inhabitants of two we stern Austrian mountain valleys were identified, and frequencies of 17 genes and haplotypes were estimated. F-ST coefficients between the si x larger villages were computed and served as the basis for dendrogram s by average linkage, a principal components analysis, and a nonlinear map that includes European groups in addition to the Tyrolean populat ion. The genetic distances between the Tyrolean villages are somewhat larger than those among Appenine villages. The two most accessible vil lages are closest to the neighboring European groups, whereas the more remote villages appear more distant to these. Nevertheless, the gene frequencies are typical of central European populations.