Distribution of two X-linked trinucleotide polymorphisms in Greece

Abstract

Objective: To determine the distribution of allele frequencies of two X-linked trinucleotide repeat polymorphisms in five major geographic areas of Greece. Methods: We have studied the distribution of the CGG repeat in the FMR-1 gene and of the CAG repeat in the androgen receptor (AR) gene in 194 and 175 unrelated blood donors, respectively. Results: The distribution of (CGG)n was not significantly different between the four main areas of the Hellenic peninsula, with the exception of an island area in southern Greece, while the distribution of (CAG)n was similar among the groups. The mean repeat number in the FMR-1 gene is 30 and the mean in the AR gene is 21. Conclusions: The Hellenic population is rather homogeneous regarding the X-linked polymorphisms studied. Copyright © 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel