Origin of the β(S) globin gene in Blacks: The contribution of recurrent mutation or gene conversion or both

S. E. Antonarakis, Corinne Dee Boehm, G. R. Serjeant, C. E. Theisen, G. J. Dover, Haig Kazazian

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

162 Scopus citations

Abstract

In order to investigate the origin(s) of the mutation(s) leading to the β(S)-globin gene in North American populations of African ancestry, we analyzed DNA polymorphisms in the β-globulin gene cluster in a large number of both β(A) and β(S) globin gene-bearing chromosomes in U.S. and Jamaican Blacks. We found 16 different haplotypes of polymorphic sites associated with 170 β(S) globin gene-bearing chromosomes. The three most common β(S) haplotypes, which account for 151/170 of the β(S) globin gene-bearing chromosomes, are only rarely seen in the chromosomes bearing the β(A) globin gene in these populations (6/47). Two observations suggest multiple origins or interallelic gene conversion, or both, of the β(S) mutation. First, the mutation is present in all three β-globin gene frameworks. Second, the β(S) haplotypes can be divided into four groups, each of which cannot be derived from any other by less than two cross-over events. In summary, our observation of the β(S) mutation on 16 different haplotypes in African populations can be explained by (i) a number of simple recombination events 5' to the β-globin gene and (ii) up to four independent mutations and/or interallelic gene conversions.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)853-856
Number of pages4
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume81
Issue number3 I
DOIs
StatePublished - 1984

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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