Consanguinity affects selection of alpha-thalassemia genotypes and the size of populations under selection pressure from malaria

Srdjan Denic, Chris Frampton, Nicolas Nagelkerke, M. Gary Nicholls

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: In populations with α+-thalassemia gene deletion, the practice of consanguineous marriages is common. Aim: The study explored the impact of consanguinity (inbreeding) on the selection of α+-thalassemia genotypes in a computer model. Method: In a population under selection pressure from malaria, a single protective mutation (-α/αα genotype) was introduced among normal genotypes (αα/αα), and mating allowed to proceed. Heterozygote (-α/αα) and homozygote (-α/-α) children were 1.5 and 2.5 times more likely to survive malaria than those with normal genotypes. Using different coefficients of inbreeding (F, range 0-0.12), we examined the effect of population size, and the mean number of generations required for the homozygote frequency to reach 0.5. Results: On average, consanguineous populations were larger than randomly mating populations and the size was directly proportional to F. In more inbred populations,-α/-α homozygotes reached a frequency of 0.5 faster than in less inbred populations. As the frequency of the α+-thalassemia allele in a population increases, however, the positive effect of inbreeding on the population growth decreases. Conclusion: Under selection pressure from malaria, consanguinity may increase the speed of selection of-α/-α homozygotes and provide an advantage regarding population growth over non-consanguineous populations.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)620-631
Number of pages12
JournalAnnals of Human Biology
Volume34
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2007

Keywords

  • Alpha-thalassemia
  • Computer modeling
  • Consanguinity
  • Inbreeding
  • Malaria

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Epidemiology
  • Physiology
  • Ageing
  • Genetics
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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