Genetic Diversity and Distance among Four Hindu Varnas of Lucknow District, U.P.

Abstract

Indian population is well known for its genetic and cultural diversity. The people of Indian subcontinent are divided into a large number of endogamous groups consisting of different castes, language and religions, varying in size, mating pattern and adaptive strategies. The present work is a small effort for tracing the genetic distance and gene diversity existing among four Varnas of Hindu Religion with the help of some genetic markers like ABO, Rh blood groups, ABH secretion, Tasting ability of PTC and Red green Colourblindness. Pooled heterozygosity is highest for ABO blood group being 0.6389 and lowest for colourblindness, 0.0532. The average of the DST and GST values for the par markers are 0.00053 and 0.0028 respectively. In the context Nei's measures of gene diversity indicates the highest value of intra population gene diversity (Hs) than inter population gene diversity (DST). Nei's genetic distance matrix (D) reveals that Brahmin, Kshatriya and Vaishya stands close to each other while overall genetic distance of Sanghvi (G2) indicates higher affinity between Brahmin and Vaishya and highest difference between Kshatriya and Shudras.