Genetic Regulatory Mechanisms at the Population Level in Man

Abstract

The distribution of the Rhesus and ABO blood groups, thalassemia, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in Europe and in Jewish populations argues for a regulatory mechanism at the population level which adjusts gene frequencies so that the overall genetic load is not excessive, since gene frequencies giving a high genetic load at one locus are often associated with those giving low genetic loads at other loci.