Mutation Report

Haemochromatosis Gene Mutations in Finns, Swedes and Swedish Saamis
L.E. Beckman^a, K. Sjöberg^c, S. Eriksson^c, L. Beckman<sup>b

a</sup>Departments of Radiation Sciences, Oncology and
^bDepartment of Medical Biosciences, Medical Genetics, Umeå University, Umeå,
^cDepartment of Medicine, University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden

Address of Corresponding Author

Hum Hered 2001;52:110-112 (DOI: 10.1159/000053362)

  Key Words

• Haemochromatosis
• HFE
• Saamis

  Abstract

Frequencies of three different mutant haemochromatosis (HFE) alleles (282Tyr, 63Asp and 65Cys) were studied in three northern European populations, i.e. Finns, Swedes and Swedish Saamis. In Finns and Swedes the allele frequencies were within the range found in other populations from northern and western Europe. The Saamis differed from the Swedes with respect to all mutant alleles. Lower frequencies compared to Swedes were found for the 282Tyr (p = 0.0046) and 63Asp (p = 0.034) alleles, whereas the frequency of the 65Cys allele was higher (p = 0.046) in the Saamis. The total distribution of HFE alleles in Saamis showed a highly significant difference from that in Swedes (² = 16.7, 3 d.f., p = 0.0008). These results further underline the genetic uniqueness of the Saamis.

Copyright © 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Prof. Lars Beckman
Department of Medical Genetics
Umeå University
S-90185 Umeå (Sweden)
Tel. +46 90 785 1769, Fax +46 90 785 3593

  Article Information

Received: Received: December 19, 2000
Accepted: January 3, 2001
Number of Print Pages : 3
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 2, Number of References : 14