TY - JOUR
T1 - Genetic structure of human populations in the British Isles
AU - Falsetti, A. B.
AU - Sokal, R. R.
N1 - Funding Information:
This is contribution No 829 in Ecology and Evolution from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. We thank Barbara A. Thomson and Marie-Jos6e Fortin for computational advice and assistance. Dr Neal L. Oden, Dr Anthony J. Boyce and two anonymous reviewers provided useful comments on earlier versions of this manuscript. This research was supported by NH Grant GM 28262 to Robert R. Sokal.
PY - 1993
Y1 - 1993
N2 - Spatial patterns were studied for 36 allele frequencies representing 14 genetic systems (blood antigens, enzymes and serum proteins) in the United Kingdom and Irish Republic. The total number of data points over all systems and localities is 331. Patterns of genetic variation in space are graphically represented by one-dimensional and directional correlograms, and by interpolated allele-frequency surfaces. The data surfaces were examined by the various techniques of spatial autocorrelation analysis. Zones of rapid change across allele surfaces were discovered by the wombling method. Six allele frequency surfaces from four genetic systems exhibit significant spatial patterns. Only one pattern (IO; in the ABO system) may be described as purely clinal in an east-west direction; another (IB; in ABO) approximates a cline or at least north-south differentiation. A method was developed for testing the direction of maximal genetic autocorrelation. Two previously unrecorded patterns for the British Isles, north-south gradients for Rhesus and P, were detected. Twelve zones of rapid genetic change were discovered; some of these seem to reflect maritime and montane physical barriers as well as long-held cultural and linguistic differences, particularly between early Germanic and Celtic speakers. Moreover, some appear to reflect past historic events such as the invasions of Anglo-Saxons and Anglo-Normans.
AB - Spatial patterns were studied for 36 allele frequencies representing 14 genetic systems (blood antigens, enzymes and serum proteins) in the United Kingdom and Irish Republic. The total number of data points over all systems and localities is 331. Patterns of genetic variation in space are graphically represented by one-dimensional and directional correlograms, and by interpolated allele-frequency surfaces. The data surfaces were examined by the various techniques of spatial autocorrelation analysis. Zones of rapid change across allele surfaces were discovered by the wombling method. Six allele frequency surfaces from four genetic systems exhibit significant spatial patterns. Only one pattern (IO; in the ABO system) may be described as purely clinal in an east-west direction; another (IB; in ABO) approximates a cline or at least north-south differentiation. A method was developed for testing the direction of maximal genetic autocorrelation. Two previously unrecorded patterns for the British Isles, north-south gradients for Rhesus and P, were detected. Twelve zones of rapid genetic change were discovered; some of these seem to reflect maritime and montane physical barriers as well as long-held cultural and linguistic differences, particularly between early Germanic and Celtic speakers. Moreover, some appear to reflect past historic events such as the invasions of Anglo-Saxons and Anglo-Normans.
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U2 - 10.1080/03014469300002652
DO - 10.1080/03014469300002652
M3 - Article
C2 - 8489197
AN - SCOPUS:0027603807
SN - 0301-4460
VL - 20
SP - 215
EP - 229
JO - Annals of Human Biology
JF - Annals of Human Biology
IS - 3
ER -