The Yta and Ytb allelic frequencies were determined by examining the red cells of 1683 blood samples from Israeli Jews, Arabs, and Druse with anti-Yta and -Ytb. The Ytb allelic frequencies ranged between 0.1005 and 0.1522 in the Jewish communities and were 0.1294 and 0.1429 in the Arab and Druse communities, respectively. These are the highest Ytb allelic frequencies observed so far in any population tested, so the Yt blood group system can be used as a genetic marker in these populations. No factors were recognized that may have influenced the selection for the Ytb allele.

Alleles↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Consanguinity in a population sample of Israeli Muslim Arabs, Christian Arabs and Druze.

BACKGROUND: In Israel lives a heterogeneous population; most of the inhabitants are Jews, and about a fifth of the population is made up of other religions, mainly Muslim Arabs including Bedouins, Christian Arabs and Druze. PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: A national survey was performed on consanguineous marriages in Israeli Arabs and Druze in order to identify population groups that are at highest risk for autosomal recessive and for multifactorial disorders. RESEARCH DESIGN: During 1990-1992, women were interviewed after delivery in maternity wards all over Israel. Data on consanguinity between the couples, their parents, and other demographic information were received from 1303 Muslim Arabs including 278 Bedouins, from 107 Christian Arabs and 115 Druze. MAIN RESULTS: The results showed high consanguinity rates in Muslim Arabs (42%), Christian Arabs (22%) and in Druze (47%). Rates of first cousin and closer matings in Muslim Arabs and Druze were stable over time in contrast with a significant decrease in the rates of distant consanguineous matings. Muslim Arab husbands (not Bedouins) who were sons of first cousins were more frequently (31%) married to a cousin than were other husbands (22%), and in Bedouins these rates were 53% and 33%, respectively. The rate of first cousin matings was predominantly associated with the level of education. The rate was highest in those Bedouins (37%) and Druze (37%) with low educational level, and lowest in highly educated Christian Arabs (14%) and non-Bedouin Muslim Arabs (10%). The association with education has implications for developing strategies for reducing consanguinity rates.

Arabs↗