[Genetic structure of the residents of Central Moldova]

Distributions of the marker genes for (1) blood groups ABO, Rhesus, MN, P, and Lewis; (2) some allotypes of G1m immunoglobulin; and (3) serum proteins Hp, Tf, and Gc; and (4) erythrocytic isoenzymes Acp and EsD were studied in 10 rural populations of central Moldova. For each local population, an empirical distribution of genotypes was obtained; and on this basis, allele frequencies, expected distributions of genotypes, and observed and expected heterozygosity were estimated. Significant differences between the studied populations with respect to variations of allele frequencies were found for the following loci: Hp, AcP, Gc, P, G1m, and Lewis. The results were compared with data on some populations of Western Europe and the CIS. Close relationships between indigenous Moldovans and other Romanic peoples, as well as the Russians and the Ukrainians, were demonstrated.