Whose Heritage in the Giant Stone Culture in Easter Island?

Abstract

The genetic markers arise from mutation of existing genes and differences are due to the substitution of a single amino acid. These allotypes are inherited in fixed combinations termed Gm haplotypes. So far, it has been recognized that the Gm haplotypes common to Mongoloid populations are Gm ag, axg, ab3st, and afb1b3; among Caucasoids, Gm ag, axg, and fb1b3; and among Negroids, Gm ab1b3, ab1c, and ab3s. Thus, Mongoloids are characterized by the presence of Gm ab3st and afb1b3 haplotypes and Caucasoids, by Gm fb1b3. No Gm haplotype are found in common between Negloids and Caucasoids or Mongoloids. The Gm system thus provides genetic markers that are unparalleled in studies of human genetics, particularly in the characterization of different populations and in studies of genetic drift and gene flow determined by the presence of either a unique haplotype in a particular race or by differences in the frequencies of the same haplotypes in a given ethnic group. The authors investigated Gm haplotype distribution among the inhabitants on the Cook islands which is close to Easter island within southeasternmost Polynesia to make clear where the native people on the Easter island came from.