¹Institute of Man, Yerevan, Armenia

Correspondence: Dr L Yepiskoposyan, Institute of Man, apt.61, bld.14, First Blind alley, Baghramyan Avenue, 375019, Yerevan, Armenia. Tel: +374 10 58 07 07; Fax: +374 10 42 01 56; E-mail: lepiskop@gmail.com

Received 7 December 2006; Revised 6 March 2007; Accepted 9 May 2007; Published online 13 June 2007.

Abstract

In this review, some principal population genetic features of familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) are considered. These relate to the time and the place of founder mutations' origins, the role of ancient migrations and contacts between populations in the spatial spreading of the disorder, the influence of environmental factors and cultural traditions on the rate of FMF incidence, and possible selective advantage in carriers of FMF causing gene (MEFV) mutations.