Genetic epidemiology of HbS in omen: Multicentric origin for the beta(S) gene

On the basis of a sample of 117 chromosomes, we have demonstrated the multi centric origin of the sickle mutation in Northern Oman, Three major haploty pes coexist: 52.1% Benin (typical and atypicals), 26.7% Arab-India, and 21. 4% Bantu, These haplotypes are not autochthonous to Oman but originated els ewhere and arrived in Oman by gene flow. The distribution of haplotypes is in excellent agreement with the historical record, which establishes clear ancient contacts between Oman and sub-Sahara west Africa and explains the p resence of the Benin haplotype; contacts with Iraq, Iran, present-day Pakis tan, and India explain the presence of the Arab-India haplotype, More recen t contacts with East Africa (Zanzibar/Mombasa) explain the presence of the Bantu haplotype. The pattern of the Arab-India haplotype in the populations of the Arabian peninsula reinforces the hypothesis that this particular mu tation originated in the Harappa culture or in a nearby population and in a ddition reveals that the Sassanian Empire might have been the vehicle by wh ich this Indo-European sickle mutation migrated (gene flow) to the present- day Arabian peninsula, including Oman. Am. J. Hematol. 64:39-46, 2000. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.