DHCR7 mutations linked to higher vitamin D status allowed early human migration to northern latitudes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Vitamin D is essential for a wide range of physiological processes including immune function and calcium homeostasis. Recent investigations have identified candidate genes which are strongly linked to concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Since there is insufficient UVB radiation to induce year-round cutaneous synthesis of vitamin D at latitudes distant from the equator it is likely that these genes were subject to forces of natural selection. We used the fixation index (F(ST)) to measure differences in allele frequencies in 993 individuals from ten populations to identify the presence of evolutionary selection in genes in the vitamin D pathway. We then explored the length of haplotypes in chromosomes to confirm recent positive selection.

Results

We find evidence

SUBMITTER: Kuan V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3708787 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature