Genetic distances for ABO and Rh(D) blood groups in the state of Nuevo León, Mexico

Abstract

The frequencies for the alleles I^A, I^B, I^O, D, and d of the ABO and Rh blood groups for populations from metropolitan Monterrey, Nuevo León, and from neighboring states in northeastern Mexico were ascertained along with those from other populations thought to have contributed to their genetic constitution, i.e., Mexican natives (Nahuas, Mexicas, and Tlaxcaltecans), Mestizos (from Mexico City), Western Europeans (Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German), and eastern Mediterraneans (Sephardic Jews). Genetic admixtures and distances were estimated, and three dimensional diagrams were elaborated. It was found that the populations that immigrated to the area area after 1940 are the ones that have received a greater genetic contribution from Mexican natives. The populations thought descended from the immigrants that colonized northeastern Mexico four centuries ago were shown to have received a high genetic contribution from Spanish, a lesser contribution from French, German and Portuguese, and a low contribution from the Sephardic Jews.