Characteristics of the beta-globin gene cluster haplotypes of three Han Chinese populations at Beijing, Xi'an, and Kunming as compared with those of other Asian populations.

Haplotype frequencies of the beta-globin gene cluster of Han Chinese at Beijing, Xi'an, and Kunming were estimated, and their mutual genetic relationships were examined and compared to those of Buryats, Khalkhs, Evenkis, Oroqens, Koreans, and Colombian Amerindians. A major 5' subhaplotype (5' to the delta-globin gene), a major 3' subhaplotype (in and 3' to the beta-globin gene), and a major haplotype (combination of 5' and 3' subhaplotypes) are represented as + - - - -, - +, and + - - - - - +, respectively, and found in all three Han Chinese. A rare 5' subhaplotype, - - - - -, which is one of the possible ancestral types, was found only in Han Chinese at Kunming at low frequency (0.