Gene differentiation in four subcastes of Brahmins from Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

Blood group (ABO, MN, Rh, CcDEe) polymorphisms are reported here for 4 strictly endogamous subcastes of Andhra Brahmins. The coefficient of gene differentiation calculated from the gene frequencies is 0.87% demonstrating that only a small fraction of the total gene diversity is attributable to the differences between subcastes. In spite of the strict endogamy for the past 10-14 centuries, 99.13% of gene differentiation exists within the subcastes.