engleski

Genetic structure of Croatian Roma population – analysis of leptin system genes’ polymorphisms

Genotypic and phenotypic differences between populations can be created by adaptation to different living conditions such as climate. Recently it was found that the frequencies of some genetic variants involved in metabolic pathways are correlated with climate zones. Since the Roma are a population which descends from area belonging to different climate zone then they presently live the goal of this study was to determinate how it is reflected in their gene pool. Since the leptin system is recognized as important regulator of metabolism we analyzed 29 SNPs associated with leptin system in Croatian Roma population. Allelic frequencies of these loci are compared between Romani and other worldwide populations. We found out that allele frequency distribution in worldwide populations follows isolation by distance model and 6 investigated loci show significant correlation with latitude as a proxy for climate conditions. Investigated loci in Roma gene pool reflect process of admixture with Asian and European populations.

leptin system; Roma; SNP; admixture; climate

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