The characterisation of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) variation in the malagasy
Date
1997
Authors
Dangerfield, Bruce
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Much of the history of the peoples of Madagascar, the Malagasy, is unknown and uncertain. The human inhabitants of Madagascar show a large amount of biological diversity. Studies of physical appearance, linguistics, ethnology, archaeology and history have implicated the African, Indonesian, Arabian, Indian and Chinese populations in contributing to the present-day diversity of the people of Madagascar. The major contributors to the inhabitants of Madagascar appear to be the African and Indonesian populations. Large amounts of African admixture are said to be present in the lowland ethnic groups and large amounts of Indonesian admixture in the highland groups. Few genetic studies have been performed to characterise the Malagasy and quantitate the proportions of genetic contributions to the diverse gene pool. Studies of genetic contributions could help to elucidate the origins and affinities of the people of Madagascar. A good candidate marker for this type of genetic study is the G6PD locus.