LOW-FREQUENCY OF THE DELTA-F508 MUTATION IN FINNO-UGRIAN AND BALTIC POPULATIONS

The frequency of carriers of the Delta F508 mutation at the cystic fib rosis (CF) locus was studied in population samples of Finns, Lithuania ns, Saamis (Lapps) and Swedes from northern Sweden. The carrier freque ncies in northern Sweden (1:200) and in Lithuanians (1:143) were signi ficantly lower than in southern Scandinavia (Denmark; 1:38). No Delta F508 carriers were found in Finns (n = 171) and Saamis (n = 151). The results indicate that the frequency of Delta F508 is low in Finno-Ugri an and Baltic populations, and the decreased frequency of Delta F508 i n northern Sweden may be due to Finnish and Saamish admixture.