Red cell glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase phenotypes in several Mongoloid populations of eastern India: existence of a non-deficient fast variant in two Australasian tribes.

A total of 954 subjects of both sexes from nine Mongoloid tribes of eastern India were investigated for the distribution of red cell glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) phenotypes by starch-gel electrophoresis. The incidence of Gd- was found to be 8% in the Khasi, 6% in the Nishi, 5% in Apatani and 3% in Adi. The small group of Bodo and the mixed group of other Arunachal tribes had Gd- frequencies of 19% and 15%, respectively. Only one isolated incidence of Gd- was encountered in the Naga, while the Hmar lacked Gd-. The Khasi had a polymorphic frequency (about 4%) of a non-deficient fast variant (GdV) (105% mobility in TEB buffer of pH 8.6). Two heterozygotes of this allele with a combination of common GdB+ were detected in two females. Interestingly, the same allele was reported earlier in another Australasian tribe--the Korkus of central India.