A nonparametric distance analysis of biochemical genetic data from the Åland Islands, Finland

Abstract

Biochemical genetic data from 3272 individuals from the Åland Islands, Finland, are analyzed using a recently developed set of nonparametric genetic distance measures. These measures are more robust than the traditional methods used in previous studies of this population. While there was general agreement in the results of the traditional and nonparametric approaches, some important differences were seen. In these cases, the nonparametric methods gave results more congruent with population history, geographic propinquity, and migration patterns. Heterozygosity measures were also calculated for the Åland Islands population and compared to values obtained for Jewish populations. The total heterozygosity values were very similar.