Genetic structure of populations in western Tyrol

ABO, MNSs, and RH blood groups of 920 indigenous inhabitants of two western Austrian mountain valleys were identified, and frequencies of 17 genes and haplotypes were estimated. FST coefficients between the six larger villages were computed and served as the basis for dendrograms by average linkage, a principal components analysis, and a nonlinear map that includes European groups in addition to the Tyrolean population. The genetic distances between the Tyrolean villages are somewhat larger than those among Appenine villages. The two most accessible villages are closest to the neighboring European groups, whereas the more remote villages appear more distant to these. Nevertheless, the gene frequencies are typical of central European populations.