THE HIGH-FREQUENCY OF THE HB B-2 VARIANT IN THE HERERO POPULATION - AFOUNDER EFFECT

The beta-globin gene cluster haplotype associated with the delta-globi n variant Hb B-2 was determined in Herero individuals from six differe nt families, in order to establish whether founder effect was responsi ble for the high frequency of this variant in the population. The elec trophoretic detection of Hb B-2 was confirmed at the molecular level b y polymerase chain reaction, followed by Cfo I digestion. The haplotyp e associated with the Hb B-2 chromosome was determined in two families , and was shown to be the same. In the remaining four families the hap lotypes could not be established conclusively, but were consistent wit h the haplotype observed in the other two families. The high gene freq uency of Hb B-2 is thus likely to have resulted from founder effect.