Chahal Sukh Mohinder Singh, Virk Rupinder Kaur, Kaur Sukhvir, Bansal Rupinder
Department of Human Biology, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab, India.
Genet Test Mol Biomarkers. 2011 Jul-Aug;15(7-8):543-56. doi: 10.1089/gtmb.2010.0149. Epub 2011 Mar 31.
The present study was planned to assess whether social stratification in the Sikh population inhabiting the northwest border Indian state of Punjab has any genetic basis.
Blood samples were collected randomly from a total of 2851 unrelated subjects belonging to 21 groups of two low-ranking Sikh scheduled caste populations, viz. Mazhabi and Ramdasi, and a high-ranking Jat Sikh caste population of Punjab.
The genetic profile of Sikh groups was investigated using a total of nine serobiochemical genetic markers, comprising two blood groups (ABO, RH(D)) and a battery of seven red cell enzyme polymorphisms (ADA, AK1, ESD, PGM1, GLO1, ACP1, GPI), following standard serological and biochemical laboratory protocols. Genetic structure was studied using original allele frequency data and statistical measures of heterozygosity, genic differentiation, genetic distance, and genetic admixture.
Great heterogeneity was observed between Sikh scheduled caste and Jat Sikh populations, especially in the RH(D) blood group system, and distribution of ESD, ACP1, and PGM1 enzyme markers was also found to be significantly different between many of their groups. Genetic distance trees demonstrated little or no genetic affinities between Sikh scheduled caste and Jat Sikh populations; the Mazhabi and Ramdasi also showed little genetic relationship. Genetic admixture analysis suggested a higher element of autochthonous tribal extraction in the Ramdasi.
The present study revealed much genetic heterogeneity in differently ranking Sikh caste populations of Punjab, mainly attributable to their different ethnic backgrounds, and provided a genetic basis to social stratification present in this religious community of Punjab, India.
本研究旨在评估居住在印度西北部边境旁遮普邦的锡克教人口中的社会分层是否有任何遗传基础。
从总共2851名无关个体中随机采集血样，这些个体分属于两个低等级锡克教在册种姓群体（即马扎比和拉姆达西）的21个组，以及旁遮普邦一个高等级的贾特锡克种姓群体。
按照标准血清学和生化实验室规程，使用总共9种血清生化遗传标记来研究锡克教群体的遗传特征，包括两种血型（ABO、RH(D)）和一组7种红细胞酶多态性（ADA、AK1、ESD、PGM1、GLO1、ACP1、GPI）。利用原始等位基因频率数据以及杂合度、基因分化、遗传距离和遗传混合的统计指标来研究遗传结构。
在锡克教在册种姓群体和贾特锡克群体之间观察到很大的异质性，尤其是在RH(D)血型系统中，并且还发现许多组之间ESD、ACP1和PGM1酶标记的分布也存在显著差异。遗传距离树显示锡克教在册种姓群体和贾特锡克群体之间几乎没有遗传亲和力；马扎比和拉姆达西之间也显示出很少的遗传关系。遗传混合分析表明拉姆达西群体中有更高比例的本土部落血统成分。
本研究揭示了旁遮普邦不同等级锡克教种姓群体中存在很大的遗传异质性，这主要归因于他们不同的种族背景，并为印度旁遮普邦这个宗教社区中存在的社会分层提供了遗传基础。
