HLA-DQA1 and Polymarker Allele Frequencies in Two New York City Jewish Populations

Abstract

Allele and genotype frequencies were determined for the HLA-DQA1 and Amplitype® Polymarker loci (low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), glycophorin A (GYPA), hemoglobin G gammaglobin (HBGG), D7S8, and group-specific component (Gc)) in Hasidic and non-Hasidic Ashkenazi New York City Jewish subpopulations. For all loci tested, except HBGG, the 2 subpopulations meet the assumption of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Comparison of various allele and genotype frequencies for the Hasidic and the non-Hasidic groups showed no significant differences. Comparison of the various allele frequencies in the two subpopulations to another Caucasian group revealed significant differences at the HLA-DQA1 and D7S8 loci in the Hasidic group. These frequency data can be used for comparison to other populations and for frequency estimates in DNA profiling.

DlS80 allele frequencies in Hasidic and non-Hasidic New York City Jewish populations

“…We found that the Hasidic and non-Hasidic populations did not differ from each other at these loci, but the Hasidic population did differ from a reference Caucasian population at 2 loci, HLA-DQA1 and D7S8 [2].…”

“…Genomic DNA was extracted [2] from peripheral blood samples of volunteers from the Hasidic and non-Hasidic Jewish populations of New York City. All samples were collected with informed consent that they may be used anonymously for other research purposes.…”

“…We have previously reported the HLA-DQA1 and Amplitype Polymarker (LDLR, GYPA, HBGG, D7S8, and Gc) allele and genotype frequencies [2] of these two New York City subpopulations. We found that the Hasidic and non-Hasidic populations did not differ from each other at these loci, but the Hasidic population did differ from a reference Caucasian population at 2 loci, HLA-DQA1 and D7S8 [2].…”

“…This group constitutes 5.8% of the New York State population and 0.4% of the United States population [2][3][4].…”

“…There are approximately 125,000 Hasidim in the New York area. They constitute 0.7% of the New York State and 0.048% of the United States populations [1][2][3][4][5][6].…”