Some genetic markers in tribals of Eastern India

A total of 204 members belonging to two ethnologically distinct tribal groups in the same area, the Santal and the Bhumij, from the Midnapore district of West Bengal have been tested for polymorphisms of serum proteins, enzymes and haemoglobin. Low chi 2 value indicates the absence of any significant genetical difference between these two tribes, in respect of their total protein patterns and Hb, Tf, Hp, Lp, LDH, ABO and Rh systems. An interesting observation was the presence of an aberrant transferrin type. A single case of phenylketonuria showed low elevation of phenylalanine.