In six Jewish populations from Eastern, Central and Southern Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and Yemen, the frequencies of 30 genes from 13 loci were determined. The calculation of genetic distances between these populations as well as a cluster analysis were done. The gene frequencies of these six populations were computed together with those of 19 other Jewish populations of diverse countries described in the literature. Of the 19 populations, 22 alleles from 10 loci were checked. Gene frequencies in autochthonous, non-Jewish populations from these countries were also computed. All Jewish populations except Yemenites are concentrated in the same cluster, being closer one to another than to any of the non-Jewish groups. A similar picture is obtained when Jewish and non-Jewish populations from 19 countries are subjected to cluster analysis. The differences between the Jewish populations generally tend to bring them closer to the corresponding non-Jewish groups. The present data suggest that these differences cannot always be explained by admixture; other factors such as the effect of convergent adaptive processes must be considered.
Comparative analysis of handedness, hand-clasping and arm-folding frequencies in four groups of adult Israel Jewish males of East European origin (N=562), Central European origin (N=165), Middle Eastern origin (N=191), and North African origin (N=163), indicates a significant similarity between the groups. A high percentage of left-handed individuals was observed in all groups except the Middle Eastern one. Right-hand clasping and left arm-folding predominated in all but the Central European group in which left hand-clasping predominated. When a comparison is made between individuals born in Eastern Europe and those born in Israel to parents of East European origin, the frequency of left handedness was considerably higher among the latter. This may be attributed to an inhibitory effect of the educational system on the expression of sinistrality in the first sub-group. Relationships between handedness and hand-clasping and between hand-clasping and arm-folding was also observed.
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