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Distribution of HLA DQA.1 alleles in New Zealand Caucasian, Maori and Pacific Islander populations. Comparison with other population studies.

Allele and genotype frequencies for the HLA DQA.1 locus were determined for 127 unrelated Caucasians, 177 unrelated Maori and 98 unrelated Pacific Islanders from the New Zealand population. DNA from blood cells was analysed by polymerase chain reaction amplification of DNA followed by hybridization to allele specific oligonucleotide probes in a reverse dot-blot test. Allele frequencies at the HLA DQA.1 locus for New Zealand Caucasians, Maori and Pacific Islanders were compared with published data for other populations. The distribution of HLA DQA.1 genotype frequencies did not deviate from Hardy Weinberg expectations for the Caucasian and Maori populations. The power of discrimination was 0.93 for Caucasians and 0.86 for Maori. The total Pacific Islander population tested was analysed as was data obtained from Western Polynesians contained within that larger group. Both the total Pacific Islander group analysed, and the Western Polynesians contained within that larger group, failed Hardy Weinberg expectations for the distribution of HLA DQA.1 genotypes. This significant deviation was due to excess homozygotes. The power of discrimination for the total Pacific Islander group and for Western Polynesians was 0.86 and 0.85 respectively. Comparison of Caucasian population studies from New Zealand, the United Kingdom, South Australia, Norway, the United States and Sweden showed these populations have similar HLA DQA.1 allele frequency distributions. Maori and Pacific Islanders have HLA DQA.1 allele frequency distributions that are more similar to each other than any of the other populations studied.

Alleles↗

Lipoprotein(a): levels in a Swedish population in relation to other lipid parameters and in comparison with a male Sri Lankan population.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate differences in Lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] concentrations between a Swedish and Sri Lankan population. METHODS: The distribution of Lp(a) and its relation to other lipid parameters, measured with an automated turbidimetric method, in 4646 Swedes (1944 females and 2702 males) undergoing health screening and 757 randomly selected Sri Lankan males (667 non-CHD and 80 CHD subjects) was evaluated. RESULTS: The distribution was highly skewed towards low values in both the Swedish population and the Sri Lankan male population. The Swedish population had a median of 0.16 g/L (reported as total mass) whereas the Sri Lankan population median of 0.06 g/L was much lower. For the Swedes, there was a small significant difference of 0.03 g/L between the sexes (F < M; p < 0.001) and Lp(a) was significantly higher in subjects > 50 years of age in both sexes (p < 0.002(F); p < 0.02(M)). 29% had Lp(a) values > 0.30 g/L. In the Sri Lankan males population Lp(a) was also significantly higher in subjects > 50 years of age (p < 0.009) but only 7% had an Lp(a) concentration of > 0.30 g/L. In the CHD subgroup, though not significant, subjects > 50 years of age had a lower Lp(a) concentration, indicating that Lp(a) may be a more significant risk factor in younger subjects. Both the Swedish female and male hypercholesterolemic subgroups had significantly higher Lp(a) concentrations than normolipemic subgroups and the male hypertriglyceridemic subgroups significantly lower Lp(a) concentrations than normolipemic. Great differences in Lp(a) levels are thus found between the two populations. The differences are similar in normolipemic subjects and probably they reflect mainly genetic differences. Lipid/lipoprotein concentrations were also found to differ. It is being investigated if this reflects differences in CHD prevalence. CONCLUSION: Our data support the importance of including Lp(a) measurements when assessing the risk profile for premature development of CHD in the individual patient.

Female↗

Filopodia number increases with age and quiescence in populations of normal WI-38 cells, and is correlated with drug-induced changes in proliferation in both normal and transformed populations.

Filopodia in log and stationary phase populations of human fetal lung fibroblasts (WI-38) at low and high population doubling levels (PDLs) and of SV40 transformed WI-38 cells (VA13A), were observed and counted under different conditions of in vitro growth by scanning electron microscopy. Cells from old non-vigorously growing WI-38 populations (those at a high PDL) had more filopodia than younger populations (those at a lower PDL) at all times after seeding, and for any given population stationary phase cells (those entering, or in, quiescence), had more than log phase cells. Hydrocortisone (HC, 14 microM), which stimulates proliferation and increases life span of WI-38 cells, was associated with a marked decrease in filopodia. Conversely, retinoic acid (RA, 10 microM), which inhibits growth and decreases life span of WI-38 cells, was associated with an increase in filopodia. Since old cell populations have lower saturation densities than young, it is suggested that cell contact signaling growth cessation in these populations may be mediated by filopodia. The HC-associated decrease in filopodia may thus be possibly interpreted as a decrease in filopodia-mediated "density dependent inhibition," and the increase in filopodia with RA as a possible increase in this "inhibition." Both HC and RA inhibit growth and are associated with an increase in filopodia in VA13A cultures.

Cell Line↗

Ratios of subclinical to clinical Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus infections in vaccinated populations: evaluation of an inactivated JE vaccine by comparing the ratios with those in unvaccinated populations.

Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus is characterized as a virus that produces a large number of subclinical infections. In this report, we estimated a ratio of subclinical to clinical infections in vaccinated human populations who acquired natural infection with JE virus, and evaluated protective capacity of the currently approved inactivated JE vaccine by comparing the ratio with those reported for unvaccinated populations. We developed a sensitive immunostaining method for detecting nonstructural 1 (NS1) antibody to demonstrate JE virus infection in vaccinated individuals. Serum samples collected from human populations in western Japan showed NS1 antibody prevalences of approximately 10% in an urban area in 1981 and 1995 and 20% in a rural area from 1982 through 1983. Analysis of annual change in NS1 antibody titer using paired samples provided a mean duration of NS1 antibody responses of approximately 2 years, indicating that 5% of the urban population or 10% of the rural population acquired natural JE virus infection in 1 year. Based on the number of JE cases from 1982 through 1991 and the number of people acquiring natural infection, and on the assumption that annual infection rates obtained in the present study areas are representative of the infection rate in entire Japan except for non-endemic northern areas, the ratio of subclinical to clinical infections in vaccinated populations was estimated to be 2000000:1, which was 2000-80000 times higher than the ratio previously reported for unvaccinated populations.

Animals↗

The HLA class I and class II allele frequencies studied at the DNA level in the Svanetian population (Upper Caucasus) and their relationships to Western European populations.

The Caucasus and the Iberian peninsula have been connected from a linguistic (Basque and Kvartelian languages), toponimic and historic perspectives. They also represent places (e.g. Dmanisi in Georgia and Atapuerca in Northern Spain) where the oldest hominoid remains in Europe are being discovered and studied. These circumstances prompted us to study the genetic background of the Svans (living on the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus in the Republic of Georgia) in comparison with Basques from the semi-isolated Arratia valley as well with other Northern Spanish and Western European populations. DRB1*1101-DQA1*0501-DQB1*0301 and DRB1*1301-DQA1*0103-DQB1*0603 haplotypes were found in Svans at the highest frequency. The second most frequent three-locus haplotypes in this population were DRB1*0701-DQA1*0201-DQB1*0201 and DRB1*1301-DQA1*0103-DQB1*0602. Furthermore, the following 5-locus extended haplotypes were not found in other populations: A3-B8-DRB1*11-DQA1*0501-DQB1*0301, A2-B8-DRB1*13-DQA1*0103-DQB1*0603, A2-B40-DRB1*14-DQA1*0104-DQB1*0501, A2-B51-DRB1*08-DQA1*0401-DQB1*0402, A3-B7-DRB1*03-DQA1*0501-DQB1*0201 and A24-B39-DRB1*08-DQA1*0401-DQB1*0402. Other haplotypes present in Svans were also frequently observed in Northern Spain and in other Western European countries. However, haplotypes reported as characteristic for Basques were not found in the Svans. A dendrogram using HLA class II alleles places the closest genetic distance observed between Svans and Czechs, whereas Slovenes and other Mediterranean populations (Jews, Hungarians, Frenchmen, Sardinians and Greeks) have the greatest genetic distance. When both HLA class I and class II alleles from 17 populations were compared, the smallest genetic distances were with Rumanians, Czechs and Armenians. Northern Spanish populations were placed closer to each other and clearly separated from Svans. In conclusion, the Svan population shows considerable polymorphism. These observations suggest a mixture of alleles in Svans from geographically distinct areas, and probably do not support a common ancestor for these Caucasian inhabitants and people from Northern Spain.

Alleles↗

Do island populations have less genetic variation than mainland populations?

Island populations are much more prone to extinction than mainland populations. The reasons for this remain controversial. If inbreeding and loss of genetic variation are involved, then genetic variation must be lower on average in island than mainland populations. Published data on levels of genetic variation for allozymes, nuclear DNA markers, mitochondrial DNA, inversions and quantitative characters in island and mainland populations were analysed. A large and highly significant majority of island populations have less allozyme genetic variation than their mainland counterparts (165 of 202 comparisons), the average reduction being 29 per cent. The magnitude of differences was related to dispersal ability. There were related differences for all the other measures. Island endemic species showed lower genetic variation than related mainland species in 34 of 38 cases. The proportionate reduction in genetic variation was significantly greater in island endemic than in nonendemic island populations in mammals and birds, but not in insects. Genetic factors cannot be discounted as a cause of higher extinction rates of island than mainland populations.

Animals↗

Finger ridge count in Basque populations: univariate and multivariate comparison with other Spanish populations.

We have analysed finger ridge counts in the indigenous Spanish Basque population (841 males and 911 females). Bimanual and sexual variation have proved to be statistically significant. The results in the Basque population were compared with those of other Spanish populations. In the univariate comparison statistically significant differences appear. The means found in the Basque population are the lowest. Our population is situated on the lower part of the variation range of the European populations for whom data are available. In principal component analysis the first two components explain more than 90% of the total variability. The first component is interpreted as a size component, which is usual. The factor scores of the individual samples have proved to be very useful in showing which populations are nearest to the Basque one.

Dermatoglyphics↗

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis risk loci in East Asian populations mirror those of European populations.

RATIONALE: Common and rare variants that are associated with the risk of developing idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) have been identified predominantly in European ancestry populations. OBJECTIVES: To better understand the genetic variants that contribute to IPF in individuals with Asian ancestry, we conducted a genome-wide association study of IPF in East Asian populations. METHODS: We included 1026 patients with IPF and compared them to 1723 unaffected controls of Japanese and Korean ancestry. Genome-wide association analysis was conducted in the Japanese and Korean ancestry cohorts separately and combined using meta-analysis. Restricted maximum likelihood was used to estimate the SNP-based heritability and local ancestry of chromosome 11 was inferred for each subject. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We identified loci on chromosomes 4 (FAM13A; rs7690839), 5 (TERT; rs7734992), 6 (DSP; rs2076295), and 11 (MUC5B; rs35705950) that were significantly associated with risk of IPF. Importantly, the sentinel variants in each of these loci are the same as, or in strong linkage disequilibrium with, the risk variants that have been observed in studies of European ancestry populations. In aggregate, common variants (not including the MUC5B promoter variant) account for approximately 25% of the risk of developing IPF in these East Asian ancestry cohorts. Moreover, local ancestry analysis indicates that the presence of MUC5B promoter variant in the East Asian population is not a result of admixture with European ancestry populations. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the IPF risk loci in East Asian populations are shared with those of European ancestry populations, although their risk allele frequencies and effect sizes differ. These findings indicate shared genetic risk factors of IPF across ancestries.

Aged↗

Seasonal fluctuation in susceptibility to insecticides within natural populations of Drosophila melanogaster. II. Features of genetic variation in susceptibility to organophosphate insecticides within natural populations of D. melanogaster.

To elucidate genetic variation in susceptibility to organophosphate insecticides within natural populations of Drosophila melanogaster, we conducted an analysis of variance for mortality data sets of isofemale lines (10-286 lines) used in the previous studies. Susceptibility of isofemale lines to the three organophosphate insecticides was continuously distributed within each natural population, ranging from susceptible to resistant. Analysis of variance showed highly significant variation among isofemale lines in susceptibility to each insecticide for each natural population. Significant genetic variances in susceptibility to the three chemicals were estimated for the Katsunuma population; 0.0529-0.2722 for malathion, 0.0492-0.1603 for prothiophos, and 0.0469-0.1696 for fenitrothion. Contrary to the consistent seasonal tendency towards an increase in mean susceptibility in the fall, reported in the previous study, genetic variances in susceptibility to the three organophosphates did not change significantly in 1997 but tended to increase by 2- to 5-times in 1998. We tested whether both the observed situations, maintenance and increase in genetic variance in organophosphate resistance, can be generated under circumstances in which the levels of resistance to the three organophosphates tended to decrease, by conducting a simulation analysis, based on the hypothesis that resistant genotypes have lower fitnesses than susceptible ones under the density-independent condition. The simulation analysis generally explained the pattern in the mean susceptibility and genetic variances in susceptibility to the three organophosphates, observed in the Katsunuma population of D. melanogaster. It was suggested that the differences in the frequencies of resistance genes in the summer population could affect the patterns in genetic variance in organophosphate resistance in the fall population.

Animals↗

The effects of population size limitation on fecundity in mosaic populations of the clonal macrophyte Scirpus maritimus (Cyperaceae).

The clonal macrophyte Scirpus maritimus (Cyperaceae) propagates locally by rhizomes and reproduces sexually by achenes. The purpose of this paper was to examine whether in size-limited habitats in patchy and discrete marshes in two Mediterranean wetlands in southern France natural populations may suffer from a reduced maternal fecundity due to a deficit in outcross pollen. We first verified that S. maritimus suffers from a reduced fecundity when self-pollinated. At a site in the Camargue, mean fecundity (mean number of achenes per centimetre of spikelet) measured in 1995 and 1996 in seven and nine populations, respectively (surface area from 50 to 4500 m) increased significantly with population surface area in 1995 but not in 1996. In the second wetland at Roquehaute, which is composed of small ponds, fecundity was very low in all 12 local populations studied in 1996 (1.1 achenes per spikelet, SD = 1.2) and was not correlated with the population surface area (from 10 to 400 m). We performed a pollen supplementation experiment in five local populations at Roquehaute to determine whether this low fecundity may be due to a pollen limitation. A significant increase in fecundity after among-pond pollinations compared to within-pond pollinations indicated that local populations suffer from a deficit in outcross pollen, since each pond appears to contain one or a few number of clones (or incompatibility types). In S. maritimus, clonal spread may have a cost in terms of reduced fecundity in small habitats because each habitat is colonized by very few clones.

Journal Article↗

Variation in female mate choice within guppy populations: population divergence, multiple ornaments and the maintenance of polymorphism.

The evolutionary significance of variation in mate choice behaviour is currently a subject of some debate and considerable empirical study. Here, I review recent work on variation within and among guppy (Poecilia reticulata) populations in female mate choice and mating preferences. Empirical results demonstrate that there is substantial variation within and among populations in female responsiveness and choosiness, and much of this variation is genetic. Evidence for variation in preference functions also exists, but this appears to be more equivocal and the relative importance of genetic variation is less clear cut. In the second half of this review I discuss the potential significance of this variation to three important evolutionary issues: the presence of multiple male ornaments, the maintenance of polymorphism and divergence in mate recognition among populations. Studies of genetic variation in mate choice within populations indicate that females have complex, multivariate preferences that are able to evolve independently to some extent. These findings suggest that the presence of multiple male ornaments may be due to multiple female mating preferences. The extreme polymorphism in male guppy colour patterns demands explanation, yet no single satisfactory explanation has yet emerged. I review several old ideas and a few new ones in order to identify the most promising potential explanations for future empirical testing. Among these are negative frequency dependent selection, environmental heterogeneity coupled with gene flow, and genetic constraints. Last, I review the relative extent of within and among-population variation in mate choice and mating preferences in order to assess why guppies have not speciated despite a history of isolation and divergence. I argue that variation within guppy populations in mate choice and enhanced mating success of new immigrants to a pool are major impediments to population divergence of the magnitude that would be required for speciation to occur.

Animals↗

[The HLA system of the Uzbek population in the Ferghana Valley. HLA antigens, genes and haplotypes of the Uzbek population in relation to its ethnogenesis].

Pecularities of distribution of 40 HLA antigens within the Uzbek population of the Ferghana Valley have been studied. The frequencies of these antigens are subdivided into three main groups having frequencies characteristic of the following populations: Caucasoid population (A9, B40, Bw22 etc.); Mongoloid population (B8, B7, B12); Middle Asian population (Aw31, B13, B16, Bw35), probably. The Uzbek population contains haplotypes both of Europeoid (Aw30, B13; A3, Bw35) and Mongoloid origin (A9, B40) and, probably, of the local origin (A1, B14; A1, Bw53; Aw32, B40). The data on the HLA genetics of the Uzbeks confirm the historical, linguistic and anthropological information concerning the role of inhabitants of the Central Asia in ethnogenesis and formation of the modern Uzbek population.

Asia, Central↗

Directional mating and a rapid male population expansion in a hybrid Uruguayan population.

The Uruguayan population has been considered as mainly European descent, with a negligible Native American or African contributions. Based on serological and molecular markers, recent studies demonstrate that these two populations had an important influence in the conformation of the present one. To the Northeastern region of Uruguay, a 20% Native American contribution was estimated using autosomal markers and a 62% Native American female origin based on mitochondrial markers. In this paper, we analyze four Y chromosome markers, two biallelic loci (M3 and YAP) and two microsatellites (DYS389I and DYS391), to characterize the male genetic contribution of a sample from the Northeastern city of Tacuarembó. We take different approaches to estimate the origin of male contributions to the population of Tacuarembó; Native American contribution ranges between 1.60% and 8.31%, confirming strong directional mating, which was also detected before with mitochondrial markers. Furthermore, the male population of Tacuarembó presents the characteristic of a population that suffered a bottleneck and a posterior expansion, confirmed using two microsatellite-based statistics to analyze the past population growth; patrilocality and migration could be responsible of those characteristics.

Chromosomes, Human, Y↗

Plague dynamics and population genetics of the desert locust: can turnover during recession maintain population genetic structure?

The desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria) undergoes crowding-induced phase transformation from solitary form to gregarious form. The transformations involves changes in behaviour, colour, development, morphometry, fecundity and endocrine physiology. Recession populations of the desert locust exist primarily in the solitary phase as small populations in patchy environments and are prone to extinction because of climatic events. Significant genetic differentiation among recession populations along the Red Sea coast of Eritrea was previously reported. It was hypothesized that despite the mixing effect of recurrent swarms, metapopulation dynamics could have produced genetic divergence among these highly scattered recession populations. A Monte Carlo simulation of the population dynamics of the desert locust in a metapopulation setting, with a realistic range of parameter values clearly demonstrated that this is possible. Population growth was represented by a discrete-time logistic equation. The duration of recessions and swarms was sampled from normal distributions whose means and standard deviations were varied based on reported estimates. An average recession duration of 10 +/- 3 generations and swarm periods half as long but almost twice as variable produced a partitioning of the total genetic variance most similar to that in the empirical study. In conventional metapopulation analysis, whether turnover leads to increased or reduced divergence is dependent on the number of colonists relative to the number of recurrent migrants, and on whether the colonists arise from a single patch or many patches. In the case of locusts, the stochastic boom and bust cycle is the overriding factor. Divergence between patches during recession due to founder effect and recurrent drift is balanced by the high rate of mixing during plagues.

Alleles↗

Molecular genetic variation and individual survival during population crashes of an unmanaged ungulate population.

Theoretical models of the effect of population bottlenecks on genetic variation assume that individuals are removed at random from the population. We investigated this assumption in a naturally regulated, unstable population of Soay sheep (Ovis aries). During rapid population declines or 'crashes', individuals were not removed at random with respect to genotype: we found associations between individual survival and certain genotypes at five polymorphic protein or microsatellite DNA loci (Ada, Got, Tf, MAF18 and OPACAP). Some loci appeared to show simple associations with survival whereas others had more complex interactions with crash year or age: all displayed different patterns of association between the sexes. Simple overdominance was not a general feature of our data; it seems likely that fluctuating selecting, countervailing selection in different fitness components or frequency-dependent selection may explain the pattern and complexity of the associations shown at different loci. Our study cannot distinguish between selection acting at these loci or at other, closely linked loci. However, our empirical study implies that the molecular genetic outcome of population bottlenecks in natural populations does not always follow theoretical expectations based on the random removal of genotypes. Bottlenecks in which individuals are removed at random are distinct from bottlenecks in which there is scope for selection via non-random survival of individuals.

Alleles↗

Natural regulation of rhesus monkey populations in Kathmandu, Nepal. Rhesus monkey groups near Kathmandu, Nepal, show demographic patterns of intrinsic population stability.

In Kathmandu valley, two populations of rhesus monkeys which are totally protected, have shown relatively stable numbers over a period of several years. Population stability within heterosexual troops appears to have been maintained through lower birth rates and slightly higher infant and adult mortality rates than in comparable rhesus populations in India which have been subject to trapping. Although the behavioral and physiological mechanisms by which these demographic changes occur are not known, behavioral observations on these populations suggest several possibilities. These data represent the first indication of possible mechanisms for population regulation in natural rhesus populations.

Animals↗

An update on Australia's future population growth and its population problems.

"Population projections need to be continually updated as new information becomes available.... With an assumption of a total fertility rate of 1.865 children per woman and annual net migration of 50,000, ABS [Australian Bureau of Statistics] projections published in 1996 and additional projections in 1997 suggest a population of 24.5 million in 2051 and an ultimate population of more than 25 million. The analysis in this article...puts Australia's various population problems into a proper perspective and tries to direct attention away from the unnecessary preoccupation with population decline."

Australia↗

Impact of demographic distribution and population growth rate on haplotypic diversity linked to a disease gene and their consequences for the estimation of recombination rate: example of a French Canadian population.

A disease gene introduced into a rapidly growing population by a single individual remains in strong linkage disequilibrium with the surrounding molecular markers. Mapping strategies taking advantage of this phenomenon allow increased mapping resolution as compared to pedigree analysis. Demographic models underlying these strategies usually assume the population exponential growth approximated by Poisson distribution of the number of children per individual. Knowing the real demographic distribution in the studied French-Canadian population, we analyzed the validity of the Poisson approximation. We adapted the existing model of the Poisson branching process to the case of a rapidly growing population and to non-Poisson distributions. In consequence, we were able to apply maximum-likelihood methods to estimate the recombination rate under various demographic scenarios. Our analysis shows that the growth rate has a higher impact on the estimation of recombination rate than the shape of the demographic distribution. The choice of the demographic model (Poisson vs. non-Poisson) has little effect on the estimation of the recombination rate but affects the expected distribution of haplotype frequencies. This distribution, however, depends much more on the population growth rate. Finally, we also demonstrate the usefulness of the Luria-Delbrück method, which gives a correct estimation of the recombination rate in a growing population, provided the sampling error is taken into account in the confidence intervals.

Confidence Intervals↗