THE GENETIC AFFINITY OF POLYNESIANS - EVIDENCE FROM Y-CHROMOSOME POLYMORPHISMS

Y-linked polymorphisms were studied in a sample of 60 Polynesians, and results were compared with findings from studies on other major popul ation groups. Three previously unreported 49a/TaqI haplotypes were obs erved, two of which possess a new polymorphic fragment named I2. Frequ ency data for the 49a/TaqI, XY275, pDP31 and Y Alu polymorphisms indic ate that Polynesians have greater affinity to Caucasoids than to Afric an populations. Similar population frequency trends were not observed for the p21A1/TaqI polymorphism, supporting the hypothesis that this p olymorphism has arisen more than once.