Civilization and the ABO blood groups

Abstract

Background: Were humans who formed the first civilizations genetically different from other humans? Or did environmental factors alone result in settled ways of life and thus civilization? Hunter-gatherer ways of life appeared to be the norm until c 10,000 years ago when agriculture began to shape human destiny and civilization followed. As the first human gene discovered, ABO gene has been studied extensively as to health and personality correlates, and while no consensus has been reached, there are findings that warrant further research. Given the prominent variations in ABO blood group frequencies based on geography, some archeological evidence and current population data on ABO blood group frequencies could be valuable to understand the historical and genetic context of civilization. Methods: To explore possible genetic differences from hunter-gatherers in sites where early agricultural based civilizations formed, current populations in those areas were surveyed as to their ABO phenotypes. Results: Earliest civilizations seemed to be found in areas of lower ABO O:ABO A ratio compared to the world ratio. Conclusions: When looking at human migration patterns, the conclusion can be drawn that while the Out of Africa migrations of c 50,000 ya appeared to consist of groups with High ABO O:ABO A ratio, civilizations that formed after c 10,000 ya marking the Agricultural Revolution were of lower ABO O: ABO A ratio than that of c 50,000 years ago and even of current world ratio. It appears that a more genetically behaviorally diverse population supported the formation of earliest civilizations.