Int J Biol Sci 2008; 4(2):81-86. doi:10.7150/ijbs.4.81 This issue Cite
Research Paper
1. Shibaura Institute of Technology, 3-7-5 Toyosu, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-8548 Japan
2. Nagahama Institute of Bio-Science and Technology, 1266 Tamura-cho, Nagahama-shi, Shiga 526-0829 Japan
3. Shimadzu Corporation, 1 Nishinokyo Kuwahara-cho, Chukyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto 604-8511 Japan
This study aimed to identify single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) alleles at multiple loci associated with racial differences in skin color using SNP genotyping. A total of 122 Caucasians in Toledo, Ohio and 100 Mongoloids in Japan were genotyped for 20 SNPs in 7 candidate genes, encoding the Agouti signaling protein (ASIP), tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TYRP1), tyrosinase (TYR), melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R), oculocutaneous albinism II (OCA2), microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), and myosin VA (MYO5A). Data were used to analyze associations between the 20 SNP alleles using linkage disequilibrium (LD). Combinations of SNP alleles were jointly tested under LD for associations with racial groups by performing a χ2 test for independence. Results showed that SNP alleles at multiple loci can be considered the haplotype that contributes to significant differences between the two population groups and suggest a high probability of LD. Confirmation of these findings requires further study with other ethnic groups to analyze the associations between SNP alleles at multiple loci and skin color variation among races.
Keywords: SNP, Polygene, Haplotype, Linkage disequilibrium