ALTITUDE LANGUAGE, AND CLASS-I HLA ALLELE FREQUENCIES IN PAPUA-NEW-GUINEA

Class I HLA gene frequencies show considerable variation over short ge ographical distances in Papua New Guinea. Hypotheses to account for th is invoke natural selection, population structure, the pattern of popu lation movement, or past demographic changes. To determine the role of the various factors in shaping this distribution, we have studied cor relations between HLA-based genetic distances, geographical distances, altitude, and Linguistic differences in Papua New Guinea. Linguistic differences at the family or stock level within the Trans-New Guinea P hylum generally correspond to genetic differences. However, on the bas is of their HLA gene frequencies, speakers of Austronesian (AN) langua ges do not farm a distinct group of populations. Linguistic variation and spatial autocorrelation do not fully account for the altitudinal d ine differences noted in gene frequencies, particularly at the HLA-A l ocus. We propose that the distribution of HLA gene frequencies in Papu a New Guinea is partially under the control of selection operating dif ferentially along the altitude gradient. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.