Brief Communication

Genes and Immunity (2005) 6, 723–727. doi:10.1038/sj.gene.6364250; published online 28 July 2005

Population-specific patterns of linkage disequilibrium in the human 5q31 region

G Luoni1,malt, J Forton1,2, M Jallow3,4, E Sadighi Akha1,4, F Sisay-Joof3, M Pinder3, N Hanchard1,2, M Herbert2, M Kimber1, R Mott1, J Hull2, K Rockett1 and D Kwiatkowski1,2

  1. 1Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, Oxford, UK
  2. 2University Department of Paediatrics, Oxford, UK
  3. 3MRC Laboratories, Fajara, The Gambia

Correspondence: D Kwiatkowski, University Department of Paediatrics, Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, Oxon, OX3 7BN, UK. E-mail: dominic@well.ox.ac.uk

maltDeceased

4These authors made an equal contribution.

Received 9 May 2005; Revised 8 June 2005; Accepted 8 June 2005; Published online 28 July 2005.

Top

Abstract

Linkage disequilibrium across the human genome is generally lower in West Africans than Europeans. However in the 5q31 region, which is rich in immune genes, we find significantly more examples of apparent nonrecombination between distant marker pairs in West Africans. Much of this effect is due to SNPs that are absent in Europeans, possibly reflecting recent positive selection in the West African population.

Extra navigation

.

naturejobs

ADVERTISEMENT