Population studies in northern Sweden. XV. Transferrin C subtypes.

The frequencies of transferrin C (TF C) subtypes were studied in 315 Finns, 222 Swedish Lapps and in 4,157 conscripts and blood donors from the counties of Norrbotten and Västerbotten in northern Sweden. The Swedish individuals were distributed according to place of birth into 23 subpopulations or regions. A significant heterogeneity between the 23 regions was observed for the TF C1, C2 and C3 genes and for rare genes. Clines were found for the TF C1 and C3 genes and for rare transferrin genes in northern Sweden. The frequencies of the C1 and C3 genes were increasing in the southwestern and northeastern direction, respectively, and the frequency of the rare transferrin genes was increasing in the northern direction. The geographical picture of the C3 gene and of rare transferrin genes could be interpreted in terms of Finnish influence. The frequency of the TF C3 gene in Finland and northern Sweden (14 and 15%) is the highest so far reported in the world. The overall picture of geographical variations of the C1 and C2 genes were not explainable in terms of ethnic influence and may be caused by random differentiation and/or selective forces.