Objective: To determine the molecular genetic relationship of minorities and sub-population in Guangxi area.
Methods: Six stable STRs (D3S1358, vWA, FGA, D5S818, D13S317 and D7S820) were selected as genetic markers. STR data of Zhuang (Yangshuo) and Yao(Wantian) were genotyped from blood samples by ABI377 sequencer. STR data of another 12 ethnic groups in Guangxi were collected from publications. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was evaluated and H, PIC, DP and PPE were computed. The genetic distances between different populations were calculated using Nei's method and clustering analysis was done by average linkage between the groups. We drew their phylogenetic tree using UPGMA.
Results: The alleles of 6 STRs in the 15 populations of Guangxi conformed with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. H was distributed in 0.6482-0.9299; PIC in 0.5706-0.8662; DP in 0.8258-0.9706, and PPE in 0. 4215-0.9917. Genetic distance between Jing of Guangxi and Jing in Dongxing was minimum (0.0007) in the 15 populations, while genetic distance between Guangxi Gelao and Wantian Yao was maximal (0.2391). The phylogenetic tree was similar to the results of clustering analysis and all the 15 populations were clustered into 2 groups.
Conclusion: The results indicate that the H, PIC, DP and PPE of 6 STRs in the 15 Guangxi populations are comparatively high. There is gene flow in some groups, but several minorities are relatively separated.