Population Studies in Northern Sweden

Frequencies of the Duffy blood groups were studied in 222 Swedish Lapps and in a series of 3,151 Swedish conscripts and blood donors from the counties of Norrbotten and Västerbotten in northern Sweden. The conscripts and blood donors were distributed according to place of birth into 23 subpopulations. The frequency of the Fy a gene among the Lapps was significantly higher than that in the Norrbotten and Västerbotten populations. The inbreeding coefficient F ST for northern Sweden was found to be 2.8 10 –3 and significant (p < 0.05). The Fy a gene frequency in Västerbotten county was significantly higher than that in Norrbotten county. The overall picture of geographical variation of the Fy a gene was not explainable in terms of Lappish and Finnish influence, it was rather contrary to the expected ethnic influence. The reason for this discrepancy is discussed.