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PubMed2003

Genetic heterogeneity of Icelanders.

Recently statements have been made about a special 'genetic homogeneity' of the Icelanders that are at variance with earlier work on blood groups and allozymes. To validate these claims an extensive reanalysis was undertaken of mtDNA variation by examining primary data from original sources on 26 European populations. The results show that Icelanders are among the most genetically heterogeneous Europeans by the mean number of nucleotide differences as well as by estimates of theta parameters of the neutral theory. The distribution of pairwise differences in general has the same shape as European populations and shows no evidence of bottlenecks of numbers in Iceland. The allelic frequency distribution of Iceland is relatively even with a large number of haplotypes at polymorphic frequencies contrasting with other countries. This is a signature of admixture during the founding or history of Iceland. Assumptions of models used to simulate number of haplotypes at sampling saturation for comparing populations are violated to different degrees by various countries. Anomalies identified in data in previous reports on Icelandic mtDNA variation appear to be due to errors in publicly accessible databases. This study demonstrates the importance of basing analyses on primary data so that errors are not propagated. Claims about special genetic homogeneity of Icelanders are not supported by evidence.

DNA, Mitochondrial↗
PubMed1999

Indicators of health and well-being in Iceland and Sweden. A comparative study of various indicators concerning standards of living and mortality.

OBJECTIVE: To study various indicators concerning health and well-being in two Nordic countries with special attention to standards of living and mortality. DESIGN: Comparative study of the mortality rates from various causes of death during the years 1983-1992 and some indicators of standard of living derived from official reports and registers in Iceland and Sweden. SETTING, SUBJECTS: The total populations of Iceland and Sweden. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mortality rates, indicators of living standard, gross domestic product and demographic variables such as divorces and unemployment. RESULTS: The mortality rates for all causes of death were similar for women in Iceland and Sweden during 1983-1992 but were lower for men in Iceland than in Sweden. The mortality rates from cardiovascular diseases decreased during the study period. The rates for malignant disease were higher in Iceland for both men and women. Iceland has a larger population growth but a much lower population density. Most of the demographic variables were similar in the two countries. Unemployment rates were higher in Sweden. CONCLUSION: In spite of large similarities between Iceland and Sweden in socio-demographic variables there are substantial differences in mortality rates between the countries. The causes for these mortality differences are obscure and should be further investigated.

Cause of Death↗
PubMedDate not supplied

ABH secretion polymorphism in Icelanders, Aland Islanders, Finns, Finnish Lapps, Komi and Greenland Eskimos: a review and new data.

The secretion of the ABH antigens in saliva was tested in indigenous individuals of several populations: Icelanders in Reykjavik and Husavik (northeastern Iceland), Aland Islanders, Finno-Ugrians (Finns, Finnish Lapps, Komi) and Eskimos (Augpilagtok, northwestern Greenland). The frequencies of ABH non-secretors among the Icelanders (28-36%) were among the highest ever noted in Europeans. Among Alanders and Swedes on the Finnish mainland the frequency (around 20%) was comparable to Swedish values but considerably higher than among Finns (13-14%). The values among northeastern Finns and Komi (about 9%) were intermediate between values among Lapps (below 5%) and Scandinavians (15-26%), excluding Icelanders (28-41%). The average frequency of non-secretors among Lapps in Finland (2.2 +/- 0.5%) was the lowest observed among white populations. Like many other arctic populations of the Mongolian race, the Greenland Eskimos had a very low frequency of non-secretors. It is probable that the non-secretor allele ABH*se was absent from the ancient Lapps and Greenland Eskimos but introduced by invading populations. It is concluded that the ABH*se allele frequencies vary much more among northern European populations than hitherto appreciated. Recent studies indicate that the non-secretor status of the ABH blood group substances in mucous body fluids is associated with pathological conditions of the mucous membranes of the embryologically related digestive and respiratory systems, particularly with duodenal ulcer and gastric (pre)malignancies but probably also with pulmonary dysfunction. In view of these disadvantages of the ABH non-secretor status the high frequency of ABH*se in Icelanders is a paradoxical phenomenon. The frequency of ABH non-secretors among the founders (Vikings) of Iceland may have been considerably higher than among the present populations in northwestern Europe. The increase in northwestern direction of the ABH*se allele frequencies supports this hypothesis; the dilution effect has not been as strong in Iceland as on the European continent.

ABO Blood-Group System↗
PubMed2000

Estimating Scandinavian and Gaelic ancestry in the male settlers of Iceland.

We present findings based on a study of Y-chromosome diallelic and microsatellite variation in 181 Icelanders, 233 Scandinavians, and 283 Gaels from Ireland and Scotland. All but one of the Icelandic Y chromosomes belong to haplogroup 1 (41.4%), haplogroup 2 (34.2%), or haplogroup 3 (23.8%). We present phylogenetic networks of Icelandic Y-chromosome variation, using haplotypes constructed from seven diallelic markers and eight microsatellite markers, and we propose two new clades. We also report, for the first time, the phylogenetic context of the microsatellite marker DYS385 in Europe. A comparison of haplotypes based on six diallelic loci and five microsatellite loci indicates that some Icelandic haplogroup-1 chromosomes are likely to have a Gaelic origin, whereas for most Icelandic haplogroup-2 and -3 chromosomes, a Scandinavian origin is probable. The data suggest that 20%-25% of Icelandic founding males had Gaelic ancestry, with the remainder having Norse ancestry. The closer relationship with the Scandinavian Y-chromosome pool is supported by the results of analyses of genetic distances and lineage sharing. These findings contrast with results based on mtDNA data, which indicate closer matrilineal links with populations of the British Isles. This supports the model, put forward by some historians, that the majority of females in the Icelandic founding population had Gaelic ancestry, whereas the majority of males had Scandinavian ancestry.

Alleles↗
PubMed1987

Allergic dermatitis (sweet itch) of Icelandic horses in Sweden: an epidemiological study.

A survey of allergic dermatitis (sweet itch) in Sweden contained information on 441 Icelandic horses. Results of a questionnaire indicated that approximately 15 per cent of the country's Icelandic horses suffered from the disease. The prevalence of allergic dermatitis was significantly higher among horses imported from Iceland (26.2 per cent) compared to that of Swedish-born animals (6.7 per cent). In addition, horses born in Iceland were significantly more severely affected than horses born in Sweden. The risk of allergic dermatitis in Sweden appeared to be more than six times higher for horses exported from Iceland to Sweden relative to that of horses originally born in Sweden. The prevalence of disease for horses of seven years or older was 30 per cent for Icelandic-born individuals as compared to 7.3 per cent for horses born in Sweden. Similarly, the risk of allergic dermatitis in Sweden for horses of seven years or older appeared to be nearly 10 times higher for horses imported from Iceland relative to that of horses born in Sweden. Allergic dermatitis usually appeared during the third grazing season for imported horses and during the fourth season for horses born in Sweden. Furthermore, the course of the disease tended to become worse with time. Analysis of the prevalence of allergic dermatitis relative to gender revealed no significant differences. Certain geographical variations in the prevalence of the disease was also found.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2002

Variation in consumption of cow milk proteins and lower incidence of Type 1 diabetes in Iceland vs the other 4 Nordic countries.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of Type 1 diabetes is lower in Iceland than in the other 4 Nordic Countries. Earlier studies have showed that the cow milk proteins A1 and B beta-casein, suggested to be diabetogenic, are in lower amount in Icelandic cow milk than in milk from the other 4 Nordic Countries, and the per capita consumption of these proteins correlates with the incidence of Type 1 diabetes. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether lower consumption of the cow milk protein bovine serum albumin (BSA) (suggested to be diabetogenic) or higher consumption of immunoglobulin (Ig) or lactoferrin (LF) (suggested to be protective) is related to the lower incidence of Type 1 diabetes in Iceland. METHODS: The per capita consumption of milk proteins was calculated from an international database on consumption of milk and milk products and from the analysis of cow's milk samples. The samples were randomly collected from the largest consumption areas in Iceland and in the other 4 Nordic Countries. RESULTS: The per capita consumption of BSA was higher in Iceland (0.79 +/- 0.02 g/person per day) (mean +/- SEM) than in the other 4 Nordic Countries (0.43 +/- 0.05 g/person per day) (p = 0.025). The per capita consumption of Ig was also higher in Iceland than in the other 4 Nordic Countries (p = 0.025), while the consumption of LF was similar. Consumption of these 3 individual milk proteins did not correlate with the incidence of Type 1 diabetes in the 5 countries studied. CONCLUSION: Consumption of BSA, Ig or LF does not seem to explain the lower incidence of Type 1 diabetes in Iceland, compared with the other 4 Nordic Countries, while A1 and B beta-casein may contribute to varying diabetogenicity of cow's milk and explain the difference in incidence of Type 1 diabetes.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

[Postgraduate medical education in Iceland; medical students' and residents' attitude].

BACKGROUND: Various parties have expressed interest in establishing formal postgraduate medical education programs. The interest of residents and medical students to such programs in Iceland has not been evaluated before. METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to 146 interns and residents and 84 senior medical students. The following variables were analyzed: Gender, attitude towards postgraduate training in Iceland, interest to participate in such training, preferred specialty and which factors might influence their decision. RESULTS: 100 subjects completed the questionnaire (response rate 45%), 61 interns and residents and 39 medical students. Of those completing the questionnaire, most interns and residents (97%) and medical students (87%) agreed or agreed strongly with the concept of postgraduate training in Iceland. The majority of responders wanted to undergo part of their postgraduate training in Iceland if this option would be available. Those who preferred postgraduate training in Iceland did so for the following reasons: The importance of "hands-on" training, availability of consultants, favorable social setting and organized teaching. Those who wanted to do all their postgraduate training abroad rated case variability, "hands-on" training, organized teaching and research opportunities as the main factors influencing their decision. CONCLUSIONS: Interns, residents and medical students are in favor of undergoing part of their postgraduate training in Iceland. Those who chose to train abroad rated case variability and research opportunities higher than those in favor of training in Iceland.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Investigation of the prevalence of summer eczema in Icelandic horses in northern Germany].

An epidemiological study on summer eczema (SE) was performed in 490 Icelandic horses from 24 stud farms located in Lower Saxony and Westphalia. The study revealed a prevalence of summer eczema of 29.8 %. Horses imported from Iceland were affected with a frequency of 71.9 %, whereas horses born in Germany and other countries had a prevalence of 15.6 % and 27.3 %. Mares (33.1 %) and geldings (29.1 %) were more often affected by summer eczema than stallions with 15.5 %. The most common sites of summer eczema were mane and tail. Five to eight years old horses were more severely affected by SE than younger or older horses. Piebald horses showed higher degrees of SE than grey horses. The high prevalence of SE in Icelandic horses kept in Germany was due to imported horses from Iceland particularly horses imported at an age of seven to 15 years were at an extremely high risk to SE (96.4 %). The prevalence of SE significantly increased with higher age. Chestnut and grey horses born in Germany were prone to a lower risk to SE than bay, black or piebald horses. In horses imported from Iceland, a higher inbreeding coefficient was significantly related to a lower prevalence of SE. The most efficient measure recommended for reduction of SE in Germany would be to abandon imports of Icelandic horse from Iceland.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2004

[Relationship between rate of unemployment and incidence of disability pension in Iceland 1992-2003.].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of unemployment and the introduction of a new method of disability assessment on the number of recipients of disability pension in Iceland by examining changes in the incidence of disability pension and unemployment year by year from 1992 to 2003. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Information on gender, age and disability grade of new recipients of disability pension in Iceland and corresponding information on the Icelandic population for each year in the period 1992 to 2003 was used to calculate the incidence of disability pension. The results were compared with data on the rate of unemployment in Iceland. RESULTS: The incidence of disability pension was relatively high from 1992 to 1995, was lower from 1996 to 2002 and then increased markedly in 2003. There is a strong correlation between the incidence of disability pension and the rate of unemployment among both genders in Iceland during the period covered by the study. An increase from 1999 to 2000 in the incidence of disability pension among females coincided in time with the introduction of a new method of disability assessment in September 1999, but also with an increase in the rate of unemployment among females. CONCLUSION: It is not warranted to claim that the introduction of a new method of disability evaluation in September 1999 has resulted in a decisive increase in the incidence of disability pension in Iceland. The increase in the number of recipients of disability pension in Iceland recently has a strong statistical correlation with changes in the labour marked, especially with rising unemployment and increased pressure at work.

English Abstract↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Height and weight of Icelandic children 6-20 years of age.].

INTRODUCTION: Monitoring growth rate in children reflects the state of health and nutrition of the individual as well as the state of health of a nation. Until now little information has been available about the growth pattern of Icelandic children. We report here the results of a nationwide cross-sectional study of growth in Icelandic children aged 6-20 years. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Height, standing and sitting and weight were measured in a total of 6500 schoolchildren, 3173 girls and 3327 boys. The measurements were performed 1983-1987. Children were randomly selected from The National Registry according to date of birth from both urban and rural areas of the whole country of Iceland. Stature was measured by a Harpenden stadiometer and the children were weighed in underwear only using a standardized scale. RESULTS: The mean values and standard deviations for height, standing and sitting and weight are presented in tables. Growth charts for height weigt and sitting height are presented. No difference in height and weight was found between children from rural and urban areas. The results show that the growth of Icelandic children is in all age groups almost identical to the growth of Norwegian children. Compaired to other Nordic and WHO growth standards, Icelandic children are tall, especially during early pubertal development. CONCLUSIONS: Icelandic children are tall and the growth of Icelandic and Norwegian children follows the same pattern wich supports the theory that the two nations are closely related.

English Abstract↗
PubMed1993

The prevalence of seasonal affective disorder is low among descendants of Icelandic emigrants in Canada.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether a genetic selection within the Icelandic population helps it to adapt to the long arctic winter. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: The target population was a group of adults in the Interlake district of Manitoba, Canada, wholly descended from Icelandic emigrants. The ancestry of every individual in this group can be traced back to 1840. DESIGN: The Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of the study population. The data were compared with results obtained with similar methods in populations in Iceland and on the eastern seaboard of the United States. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence rates of seasonal affective disorder and subsyndromal seasonal affective disorder. RESULTS: The prevalence rates of seasonal affective disorder and subsyndromal seasonal affective disorder were found to be 1.2% and 3.3%, respectively, in this group of Canadians of wholly Icelandic descent. These are significantly lower than those measured with similar methods among people living along the east coast of the United States (chi 2 = 12.6 and 14.4, respectively, P < .001). Standardized rate ratio for this group compared with the American group was 0.18 for seasonal affective disorder and 0.38 for subsyndromal seasonal affective disorder. CONCLUSIONS: This is the second study to find the prevalence of seasonal affective disorder and subsyndromal seasonal affective disorder to be lower among Icelanders or their descendants than among populations along the east coast of the United States. The results indicate that the relationship between prevalence of these disorders and geographic latitude is more complex than has previously been suggested; genetic adaptation in Icelandic populations may play an important role.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1986

The development of health and social services for the elderly in Iceland: an overview.

In the present paper, we provide a general overview of the changing position of the aged population in Iceland. After a long history of subsistence, Icelandic society has evolved only recently from pre-industrial conditions compared with other Western developed nations. The 1000-year preindustrial record is in large part one of a struggle for survival in which formal and informal measures to support the frail and disabled were often overwhelmed by disease and famine; this history is outlined to provide a baseline for recent changes. Both the speed and propinquity of Iceland's transition from these conditions have left a unique stamp on the present-day society: development has driven a quick elaboration of occupational roles and other social status shifts, vast health status improvements, and great population and urban growth. Public and personal health services have grown in scope and adequacy in comparatively recent decades, contributing to the now unsurpassed health status of the general population. The effect of these trends on the condition of elderly is described. As the birth rate in Iceland has dropped in recent decades, the proportion and number of Icelanders in the older and especially the oldest age-strata has been steadily rising. The current and planned organization of health and social services is reviewed, as Iceland faces new tasks of caring for elderly.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

A survey of the fertility of Icelandic stallions.

Very limited information is available on the breeding performance of Icelandic stallions, let alone the effect that management practices may have had on such performance. As an extensively kept, largely genetically isolated breed of horse it provides a good model for the study of factors that affect reproductive performance without the additional complication of selective breeding, infectious infertility and breed effect. A survey was conducted using 27 Icelandic stallions covering 1590 mares within the normal Icelandic breeding system (May to September). During the season, stallions cover mares within three periods of time, each period being of a similar length (average 35.5 days). During period 1, mares are covered in hand and at pasture. During periods 2 and 3, all mares are covered at pasture. The overall fertility rate for Icelandic stallions was calculated. The effect of a range of variables on fertility was investigated statistically using a number of models in an attempt to minimise the effect of confounding factors. An overall adjusted fertility rate for Icelandic stallions of 67.7% was obtained. The following factors were shown to have a significant effect on fertility: age of mare (P<0.001), training level of stallion (P<0.05) and method of breeding (P<0.05). For some individual stallions reproductive status of the mare also had a significant (P<0.001) effect. Many of these factors have been observed to effect FR in other more intensively managed equine populations. However, the less dramatic detrimental effect of age and the lack of a significant effect of mare reproductive status in most stallions suggests that infertility problems are less evident in Icelandic mares, possibly due to less emphasis on selection for athletic performance and the accepted culling of subfertile stock.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2003

A reassessment of genetic diversity in Icelanders: strong evidence from multiple loci for relative homogeneity caused by genetic drift.

There has been some controversy in the literature concerning whether Icelanders are genetically homogenous or heterogeneous relative to other European populations. We reassess this question in the light of large data sets spanning 83 autosomal SNP loci, 14 serogenetic loci, 6622 Y-chromosomes and 3214 sequences from mtDNA hypervariable segments 1 and 2 (HVS1 and HVS2). Our results strongly support the hypothesis that genetic drift, with a consequent loss of variation, has had a greater impact on Icelanders than most other Europeans. We also analyse 7245 HVS1 sequences from 25 European populations. In line with other studies, we observe a deficit of rare HVS1 haplotypes and an excess of intermediate frequency haplotypes in Icelanders compared to most European populations, with some measures of genetic diversity indicating relative heterogeneity and others indicating relative homogeneity of Icelanders. Simulations indicate that genetic drift, and not admixture (as proposed by Arnason, 2003) is the most likely cause of the atypical Icelandic HVS1 frequency spectrum. These simulations reveal that gene diversity (heterozygosity) and mean pairwise differences are largely insensitive to events in recent population history, while statistics based on the number of haplotypes or segregating sites are much more sensitive. Overall, our analyses strongly indicate that the Icelandic gene pool is less heterogeneous than those of most other European populations.

Chromosomes, Human, Y↗
PubMed2005

[Latent autoimmune diabetes in adults in Iceland: prevalence, phenotype and relatedness].

INTRODUCTION: Ninety percent of diabetic individuals in Iceland suffer from type 2 diabetes mellitus. Antibodies against ss-cell components characterise type 1 diabetes, but these antibodies are also found in type 2 diabetic individuals, defined as latent autoimmune diabetes in adults or LADA. The purpose of this investigation was to estimate the prevalence of LADA in Iceland and to describe the phenotype and relatedness of these individuals. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A list of individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes was generated from outpatient clinic lists and the Reykjavik Study of the Icelandic Heart Association. A genealogy database (Book of Icelanders; deCODE Genetics) was used to identify all individuals related to these index cases within six meioses. This method identified 950 type 2 diabetic individuals during the years 1998-2000. We analyzed their phenotype and measured glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody (GAD). Kinship coefficient was used to compare the relatedness of those with antibodies to GAD to the relatedness of all type 2 diabetic individuals in the study. RESULTS: 10.1% of men and 9.3% women had measurable antibodies against GAD (non-significant difference). The mean age of GAD positive and GAD negative individuals was comparable (67.1 +/- 10.7 and 68.0 +/- 11.3; years +/- SD). Body mass index was significantly lower (p=0,02) for the GAD positive individuals or 28.2 kg/m(2) (27.2-29.2; 95% CI) vs. 29.7 (29.3-30.1). Of the GAD positive individuals, 47% +/- 9% (95% CI) had the metabolic syndrome as defined by WHO compared with 60 +/- 4% of the GAD negative individuals (p=0.02). The kinship coefficient for GAD positive individuals (n=94) was 6.00x10(-4) compared with 3.93x10(-4) +/- 8.3x10(-5) for 500 random samples (each of 94 individuals) of the whole cohort (p=0.008). CONCLUSION: About 10% of Icelandic type 2 diabetic individuals have antibodies against GAD, which is comparable to the results of other investigators. Icelandic GAD positive type 2 diabetic individuals have less frequently the metabolic syndrome than other type 2 diabetic individuals and GAD positive individuals are significantly more related to each other than type 2 diabetic individuals in general.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Macular corneal dystrophy types I and II are caused by distinct mutations in the CHST6 gene in Iceland.

PURPOSE: To identify CHST6 mutations in five additional Icelandic cases of macular corneal dystrophy (MCD) type I and in four families with MCD type II from Iceland. METHODS: Genomic DNA was extracted from blood leukocytes of patients with MCD, their healthy family members, and from control individuals. CHST6 mutations were determined by PCR-sequencing. Immunophenotypes of MCD were determined by measuring antigenic keratan sulfate (AgKS) levels in serum and by an immunohistochemical study on corneal tissue. RESULTS: Five additional cases of MCD type I and four families with MCD type II from Iceland were studied. A homozygous p.A128V mutation in the coding region of the CHST6 gene was identified in four of the five MCD type I cases. The other person with MCD type I was a compound heterozygote for p.A128V and a frameshift p.V6fs resulting from a 10-base pair insertion (c.15_16insATGCTGTGCG). Four of five individuals with MCD type II were compound heterozygotes for p.A128V and p.V329L, thus sharing the same p.A128V mutation as MCD type I. One patient with MCD type II was homozygous for p.V329L. The p.V329L mutation was only found in MCD type II patients. An analysis of the upstream region of CHST6 disclosed no upstream deletion or replacements in Icelandic patients with MCD type II. CONCLUSIONS: The findings fit the haplotype analysis that we reported previously in Icelandic MCD families and indicate that different mutations in CHST6 cause MCD type I and type II in Iceland.

Alanine↗
PubMed2007

[Prevalence of disability in Iceland in December 2005].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the size and main medical and social characteristics of the group of individuals receiving disability benefits in Iceland in December 2005. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study includes all those receiving disability benefits in Iceland on December 1st 2005 as ascertained by the disability register at the State Social Security Institute of Iceland classified by gender, age and place of residence. Similar information was obtained on the Icelandic population. The prevalence of disability pension was calculated. RESULTS: On December 1st 2005 the prevalence of disability pension was 8.6% for females (8.0% for the higher and 0.6% for the lower pension level) and 5.5% for males (5.2% for the higher and 0.3% for the lower pension level). For females the prevalence of disability was lower in the capital region than in other regions, but this was not the case for males. The prevalence of disability increased with age. On the whole disability was more common among females than males. Mental and behavioural disorders and diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue were the most prevalent causes of disability. CONCLUSION: The prevailing trend over the last decade of increasing disability in Iceland has continued. Iceland appears to lag behind the other Nordic countries in the use of vocational rehabilitation and labour marked activation to prevent disability. Ample opportunities to slow down this trend are therefore available by greater emphasis on such measures.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A molecular survey of phenylketonuria in Iceland: identification of a founding mutation and evidence of predominant Norse settlement.

Iceland was settled during the late 9th and early 10th centuries AD by Vikings who arrived from Norway and the British Isles. Although it is generally acknowledged that the Vikings brought with them Celtic slaves, the relative contribution of these peoples to the modern Icelandic gene pool has been a matter of considerable discussion. Most population genetic studies using classical markers have indicated a large Irish genetic contribution. We have investigated the molecular basis of phenylketonuria (PKU) in 17 Icelandic patients and found 9 different mutations in the phenylalanine hydroxylase gene. One novel mutation, Y377fsdelT, accounts for more than 40% of the mutant chromosomes. Haplotype data support a common ancestral origin of the mutation, and genealogical examination extending back more than 5 generations shows that this mutation has probably arisen in an isolated part of southern Iceland and was enriched by a founder effect. At least 7 PKU mutations have originated outside iceland. The almost exclusively Scandinavian background of these mutations and the complete absence of common Irish PKU mutations strongly support historical and linguistic evidence of a predominant Scandinavian heritage of the Icelandic people.

DNA Mutational Analysis↗