Genetic Relationship between Indian Tribes and Australian Aboriginals

Abstract

Using gene frequency data of ten blood group and protein loci (A1A2BO, MNSs, Rh, P, Lu, Fy, Hp, Tf, Hb beta and Gm) the genetic relationships of three tribes, namely, the Toda, Irula, Kurumba in south India and one tribe, namely, the Veddah in Sri Lanka with the Aboriginals in Malay, New Guinea and Australia were studied by genetic distance analysis. The tribes in south India and Sri Lanka are genetically closer to one another than to the Aboriginals in southeast Asia and Oceania. Despite their morphological similarity there is no genetic evidence to suggest that the Indian tribes and Australian Aboriginals are biologically related.