Genetic differentiation among Iranian Christian communities

From some 500 members of Christian communities in Iran (Armenians and Assyrians from six localities), blood specimens were obtained and examined for a number of blood group, red cell enzyme, and serum protein systems. The results indicate the relatively closed nature of the Christian community as a whole but that moderate differentiation has already occurred among the local groups. One factor in this diversification process that can be distinguished is the effect of urbanization in Tehran, but otherwise it seems to be largely random.