Evidence against location of the gene for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy on the distal long arm of chromosome 14.

A panel of 399 individuals from 24 kindreds with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) has been established for genetic linkage studies. A previous suggestion of linkage on the distal long arm of chromosome 14 to the locus (IGHG) for the constant region of the heavy chain of IgG immunoglobulin was tested from serum Gm allotypes and from DNA analysis using an IGHG DNA probe. After applying an age-dependent weighting for presently unaffected but at risk individuals close linkage between the IGHG and FSHD loci was excluded.

Linkage between the expressed hypervariable gene locus PUM and the gene coding for the Duffy blood group FY.

Linkage is reported between the expressed hypervariable gene locus PUM and the gene coding for the Duffy blood group FY, with a maximum lod score of 4 at theta = 0. Linkage can be excluded between PUM and PEPC at a distance of 10 cM.

Polymorphisms in some racial groups in Burma.

Data are presented on serum and red cell polymorphisms in five ethnic groups in Burma, the Chin, Naga, Kachin, Shan and Kayah. Gene frequencies are discussed in relation to the present geographical locations of the groups and their probable history of migration.