POLYMORPHIC GENE MARKERS IN MEXICAN-AMERICANS RESIDING IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

The gene frequencies of nine different genetic polymorphic markers [AB O, MNS and P blood groups; haptoglobin, transferrin, Gc protein, compl ement (C3), properdin factor B and alpha(1)-antitrypsin] were determin ed in 94 Mexican-Americans residing in the Los Angeles, California are a. Comparisons with published data on Mexican-Americans living in othe r areas of the United States or in Mexico itself revealed no significa nt differences in the gene frequencies between this and previous studi es. However, data from the current study demonstrated significant diff erences in ABO and haptoglobin allele frequencies compared to publishe d non-Hispanic Caucasian data. These data suggest a large degree of ge netic homogeneity in the Mexican-American population residing in the U nited States. Additional gene marker studies will be important to test this hypothesis and further define the degree of non-Hispanic Caucasi an admixture in this population.