The Gc Polymorphism in the Caingang Indians of Brazil

Abstract

Immunoelectrophoretic classification of genetic differences in the serum group specific component was carried out on samples from 302 Caingang Indians living in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. These included 232 putative "full bloods". In the 4 populations studied, the Gc2 gene frequency varied from 0.278 to 0.558 among individuals without signs of White or Negro admixture. The Gc results confirmed previous investigations indicating that these 4 populations can be grouped into 2 main evolutive complexes. The Gc distribution in American Indians and Eskimos was reviewed. Two of the populations studied here and one Zavante group of Central Brazil are the first samples in the world to show Gc2 frequencies higher than 50%.Authors.