Allele frequencies of the ABCC11 gene for earwax phenotypes among ancient populations of Hokkaido, Japan

J Hum Genet. 2009 Jul;54(7):409-13. doi: 10.1038/jhg.2009.56. Epub 2009 Jun 26.

Abstract

Human earwax is classified into wet and dry types, which are determined by a single-nucleotide polymorphism in the adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette, sub-family C11 (ABCC11) gene locus. To investigate the allele frequencies of the ABCC11 locus within ancient populations on the Northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, amplified product-length polymorphisms were analyzed for 50 specimens of the Okhotsk people and 35 specimens of the Jomon and Epi-Jomon people excavated from various archaeological sites of Hokkaido. Of these specimens, 31 Okhotsk and 19 Jomon/Epi-Jomon samples were genotyped successfully. Frequencies of the wet-type allele in the Jomon/Epi-Jomon people, considered a major ancestor of the Ainu, were higher than those of other Northeastern Asian populations, including the modern Ainu. By contrast, in the Okhotsk people, believed to originate from East Siberia, frequencies of the dry-type allele were relatively higher than those in the Ainu and Jomon/Epi-Jomon people. These results suggest that gene flow from the Northeastern Asian Continent to descendants of the Jomon/Epi-Jomon people of Hokkaido through the Okhotsk people occurred, resulting in the establishment of the Ainu.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / genetics*
  • Alleles
  • Archaeology
  • Asian People / genetics*
  • Cerumen / metabolism*
  • Fossils*
  • Gene Frequency*
  • Genotype
  • Geography
  • Humans
  • Japan
  • Phenotype

Substances

  • ABCC11 protein, human
  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters