Hemoglobin E Distribution in Ten Endogamous Population Groups of Assam, India

• Published in: Human heredity 1988, Vol.38 (5), p.261-266
• Main Authors: Deka, R., Reddy, A.P., Mukherjee, B.N., Das, B.M., Banerjee, S., Roy, M., Dey, B., Malhotra, K.C., Walter, H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anemias. Hemoglobinopathies; Asian Continental Ancestry Group - genetics; Biological and medical sciences; Diseases of red blood cells; Distribution; European Continental Ancestry Group - genetics; Gene Frequency; Genetics, Population; Hematologic and hematopoietic diseases; Hemoglobin E - analysis; Hemoglobin E - genetics; Hemoglobins, Abnormal - genetics; Hemoglobinuria - etiology; Humans; India; Medical sciences; Original Paper; Original Papers; Population
• ISSN: 0001-5652; 1423-0062
• DOI: 10.1159/000153796

Previous studies have reported a high incidence of hemoglobin E (HbE) in Northeast Indian populations. In the present study 10 endogamous populations of Assam belonging to two racial groups, Caucasoid and Mongoloid, were examined. The frequency of HbE gene (HbβE) in the Caucasoid caste populations is around 0.1, whereas the gene is highly prevalent in the Mongoloid populations, frequencies ranging between 0.2 and 0.6. Predominance of HbβE in the Tibeto-Burman speakers is contrary to observations made in Southeast Asia, where an association between Austro-Asiatic speakers and high prevalence of HbE exist. The highest occurrence of the gene in this area, which is on the far end of the proposed centre of distribution in Northern Kampuchea and Northeast Thailand, is also a deviation from the expected pattern of gene distribution. It is speculated that HbβE in the Tibeto-Burman populations of Assam arose by an independent mutation which contributed to the high frequencies of HbβE in the Northeast Indian populations.