COMPLEX POLYMORPHISMS ARE REVEALED BY Y-CHROMOSOME PROBE 49A WITH BGLII, HINDIII, PSTI AND SSTI

Y chromosome probe 49a detects complex polymorphisms with BglII, HindI II, PstI and SstI, involving 19, 13, 18 and 11 variant bands respectiv ely. The haplotype, a description of the arrangement of fragments in a n individual, exhibits great variation. Most haplotypes are population -specific and occur infrequently. In a study of approximately 60 indiv iduals of Caucasoid, Negroid and San origin, 21, 23, 28 and 24 haploty pes were revealed by BglII, HindIII, PstI and SstI respectively. Reduc ed genetic diversity in the Negroid population was ascribed to both th e proposed recent common origin of the Bantu-speaking Negroid populati on from a proto-Bantu stock and the common practice of polygamy in Afr ican Negroids, as were specific correlations between the different pol ymorphisms within the Negroid population only. In general, no single h aplotype for a given enzyme system strictly correlated with a haplotyp e from any of the other three systems, suggesting that each polymorphi sm results from a combination of restriction site mutations and rearra ngement events. This tremendous variability has potential in paternity testing for male offspring.