elements within the human major histocompatibility class I region in the Comoros Islands: genetic variation and population relationships.

elements are attractive markers for population genetics, disease, forensics and paternity analyses, due to their particular characteristics. Five polymorphic insertions within the MHC class I region have been little examined in human populations. The analysis of the genetic diversity of autochthonous Comorians from the three major islands of the archipelago by these polymorphic MHC and to assess their relationships together and with other populations. Two hundred and fifty-seven unrelated participants from the Comoros archipelago, Grande Comore (86), Anjouan (93) and Moheli (78), were examined for five MHC insertions. The data were analysed for intra- and inter-population genetic variation. All MHC were polymorphic in the three samples and only one significant differentiation was observed between Anjouan and Moheli. According to the MDS and AMOVA results, the populations included in the inter-population analyses were grouped in three major clusters according to their genetic ancestry. The haplotype diversity showed by the Comorians is higher than in previously studied African populations and occupies an intermediate position between African and Asian clusters. MHC insertions are useful markers to study micro-geographical genetic variations. Using these polymorphisms, new insights have been obtained about the biological history and evolution of the Comoros.