MICROSATELLITE PROFILES REVEAL AN UNEXPECTED GENETIC-RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ASIAN POPULATIONS

Allelic frequencies for up to five short tandem repeat systems (HumTH0 1, HumVWA, HumF13B, HumCD4, HumD21S11) were analyzed in seven populati on samples from Asia using the polymerase chain reaction and gel elect rophoresis. No deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were observe d. Two new alleles of the CD4 and TH01 loci were detected, and sequenc ed and their molecular structure is presented. A phylogenetic tree bas ed on Thai, Han Chinese (from the northeast of China), Japanese, Germa n and Ovambo allelic frequencies was constructed and demonstrates the close relationship of the Asian populations. Additionally, allelic fre quency data for the VWA and TH01 systems were determined for the south Chinese minorities Pal, Dai and Qiang and for Koreans and compared wi th the above data. The Bai and Dai populations were clear outliers of the cluster of all other Asians, indicating an unexpected pattern of g enetic heterogeneity of the Chinese nation. Two clusters of Asian popu lations could be established: the Koreans and Japanese together with t he Han and Qiang Chinese, and, forming a separate cluster, the Bai and Dai populations.