TRANSFERRIN VARIANTS AS MARKERS OF MIGRATIONS AND ADMIXTURE BETWEEN POPULATIONS IN THE BALTIC-SEA REGION

Transferrin (TF) types were examined by isoelectric focusing in an att empt to elucidate migrations and admixture between populations in the Baltic Sea region. A highly significant heterogeneity between populati ons was found with respect to TFC subtypes as well as the rare TF var iants B2, B0-1 and DCHI, With the exception for Estonia, increased fre quencies of the TFC3 allele were observed east of the Baltic Sea. The island of Gotland in the middle of the Baltic Sea also showed a high TFC3 frequency indicating an eastern influence. The TF*DCHI allele, a marker of eastern (Finno-Ugric) influence, was found in Finland and E stonia and on the island of Gotland, but not in mainland Sweden and in the Baltic peoples (Latvians and Lithuanians). These results indicate the presence of a Finno-Ugric, most likely Estonian or Livonian, gene tic influence in the Gotland population.