G-6-PD deficiency gene dynamics in a Brazilian population.

Abstract

SummaryStudies on the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity of erythrocytes from 416 males and 820 females are reported. The total number of deficient males (intermediate + complete) varied from 3.9% among the whites (102 persons) to 15.1% among Dark Mulattoes (99 individuals); the incidence in the Negroid sample in general (316 persons) was 12.4%. The data obtained among the women were utilized to study problems of penetrance of the G-6-PDD genes. Results obtained in both sexes were employed to verify, unsuccessfully, possible selection differentials through age analysis and the comparison of the gene incidences of people affected with minor ailments and controls. Problems of gene flow analysis in populations like this one in which the “Negro” and “White” forms of the deficiency are present were stressed.