Genetic heterogeneity and gene diversity at ABO and Rh Loci in the human population of Southern Punjab,Pakistan

Southern punjab in pakistan is a heterogeneous assemblage of human populations which have diverse origins. various waves of pre- and post-partition (1947) migrations,urbanization and high inbreeding coefficient have profoundly influenced the diversity and substructuring of this multiethnic and multilinguistic population. in order to get an insight into the genetic structure of southern punjab population,we have employed classical immuno-genetic markers of abo and rh loci. five administrative districts,i.e.,dera ghazi khan,muzaffargarh,multan,bahawalpur,and liaquatpur,were included in this study and the phenotypic and genotypic data of approximately 60,000 subjects was assembled. various genetic parameters including maximum likelihood estimates of allelic frequencies,hardy-weinberg equilibrium,locus specific and combined heterozygosities,and phenotypic and allelic variances,were investigated to understand population dynamics. affinities between recruited populations were measured through tests of homogeneity,and gene diversity and coefficient of gene differentiation was computed in sub- and total-population. these analyses established that southern punjab population is markedly distinct from the upper punjab/punjab populations for the genetic systems studied. additionally,population stratification and substructuring were significantly higher in southern punjab compared to upper punjab/punjab,depicting the likely role of micro-evolutionary forces shaping the dynamics of this interesting population. this pilot study would help understand the genetic structure of southern punjab population and to find its affinities with other pakistani populations. copyright 2013 zoological society of pakistan.