DISTRIBUTION CHARACTERISTICS OF POLYMORPHIC ALLELES AMONG THE POPULATIONS OF THE NANSEI ISLANDS, JAPAN

The characteristics of the distribution of blood group polymorphism alleles among the populations of the Nansei Islands, Japan, were examined using currently available blood group data, such as red cell types, enzyme types and serum protein types. 1. A comparison of genetic diversity was made between the Amami-Oshima and Tanegashima populations, and the neighboring large populations such as the mainland of Kagoshima and the main island of Okinawa. Gene diversity in the island populations is similar to that of Kagoshima and Okinawa. 2. Geographical clines of allele frequency of blood groups in Japanese populations are discussed. Clines constructed using the Nansei Islands data support the‘dual structure model’hypothesis for the origin of the Japanese more strongly than previously described clines. 3. Two rare alleles, TF Damami and AHSG 5, which are uniquely distributed in the Nansei Islands, are described.SECTION THREE: PEOPLE-NATURE INTERACTIONS: Report