Red cell glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase genotypes of the population of two West African villages.

Blood samples from 1109 individuals, residents of two villages in The Gambia, West Africa, have been examined for red cell G6PD. Using both starch gel electrophoresis and a spectrophotometric assay, preliminary phenotypes were assigned to the 519 males and 590 females. The G6PD genotypes were established by reference to the family trees of the two village populations. In addition to the G6PD alleles B+, A+ and A-, a fourth allele, representing a new variant of human G6PD was discovered between the two villages, despite their being of the same tribal origin and only five miles apart.