Genetic variation of FUT2 in a Ghanaian population: identification of four novel mutations and inference of balancing selection.

The FUT2 is rich in polymorphisms that show population-specific patterns in its coding sequence. In this study, we found four novel substitutions in 121 Ghanaian samples. In addition, statistical tests considering population expansion scenarios suggested that balancing selection might be responsible for the genetic diversity of FUT2 in this population.