Thurmon T F, Robertson K P
Public Health Rep. 1979 Sep-Oct;94(5):471-6.
Analysis by the methods of genetic demography can offer plausible explanations for the unusual distribution of cancer in an area of high incidence. The important demographic characteristics include inbreeding, founder effect, and racial admixture. Inbreeding would elevate cancer incidence if autosomal recessive genes played a role in cancer etiology. Founder effect would limit this phenomenon to those recessive genes observed in the founding group and result in a cancer spectrum different from that of the surrounding populations. The preference of a racially admixed group for classification as white could result in an excess of cancer patients being classified as white. The population groups in southern Louisiana typify the kind of "human genetics laboratory" that inbred groups offer to investigators of the genetic aspects of cancer.
通过遗传人口统计学方法进行分析，可以为癌症高发地区癌症的异常分布提供合理的解释。重要的人口统计学特征包括近亲繁殖、奠基者效应和种族混合。如果常染色体隐性基因在癌症病因中起作用，近亲繁殖会提高癌症发病率。奠基者效应会将这种现象限制在奠基群体中观察到的那些隐性基因，并导致与周围人群不同的癌症谱。一个种族混合群体倾向于被归类为白人，可能会导致过多的癌症患者被归类为白人。路易斯安那州南部的人群代表了近亲繁殖群体为癌症遗传学研究人员提供的那种“人类遗传学实验室”。
