Studies on an isolated West Indies population (V): Genetic differentiation, evidence for founder effect and drift.

Red cell antigens [A,B,H,C,c,C(w),D,E,e,M,N,S,s,P1,K,FY(a),JK(a)] and 20 serum proteins or erythrocyte enzymes were tested in a white isolate of the French West Indies (the island of St-Barthélémy). The genetic differentiation mainly due to genetic drift and founder effect between France and this isolate and between the Leeward (parish of Gustavia) and Windward (parish of Lorient) areas within the island is discussed. Genetic admixture with black populations of African origin is very low.