[Revelations of the origin of Chinese nation from clustering analysis and frequency distribution of HLA polymorphism in major minority nationalities in mainland China].

This paper is a joint report on the analysis of polymorphism of HLA class I, II and III antigens in Chinese major minority nationalities (Miao, Buyi, Mongol of Inner Mongolia, Man, Hui, Tibetan and Uygur), and southern and northern Han samples as a part of the workshop organized by the 11th International Histocompatibility Workshop and Conference (IHWC) held on 6-13 November 1991 in Yokohama. Clustering analysis showed that Miao and Buyi cluster with the southern Han and Mongol, Man, Hui and Tibetan cluster around the northern Han, suggesting that the Chinese nation comprises northern and southern two major populations. Uygur clusters with a large group of Caucasoid samples from very far point. Frequencies of HLA alleles of Caucasoid origin (A3, B8 and others) decrease eastwards and southwards, and those of HLA alleles of Southeast Asia Mongoloid origin (B46 and others) decrease northwards. The gradient distribution of HLA allele frequencies suggests the unceasing migration and mutual amalgamation of our ancestors since the remote pre-historic times. From the fact that Chinese nation comprises northern and southern two major populations, this paper discussed the possible revelations of the origin of Chinese nation.