Distribution of group specific component (GC) and transferrin (TF) subtypes in populations of Sri Lanka.

A random sample of 503 individuals from five endogamous groups of Sri Lanka was studied for the genetic polymorphism of the group specific component (GC) and transferrin (TF) using isoelectric focusing. Both systems showed statistically significant heterogeneity among the five main populations of the island. The GC allele frequencies of Malays are significantly different from those of the other four populations (Sinhalese, Tamils, Moors and Burghers). However, the TF system shows less variation, since only the Moors show a significant heterogeneity compared to Tamils and Burghers. The frequencies found in the present study are very different from those reported for the populations of the Indian mainland.