Evidence of the African Origin of Sickle Cell Hemoglobin in Western Sicily

Previous studies, both by Hpa I polymorphism restriction enzymes, and by haplotyping, suggested an African origin of beta super(S) in Sicily. The data presented here provide further strong evidence that the Hb S gene in Sicily was brought by North African populations, probably during the Muslim invasions. It is possible that the gene migrated from West Africa to North Africa, along the well-documented trans-Saharan caravan routes.