Elsevier

Evolution and Human Behavior

Volume 20, Issue 5, September 1999, Pages 309-324
Evolution and Human Behavior

Original articles
Population Migration and the Variation of Dopamine D4 Receptor (DRD4) Allele Frequencies Around the Globe

https://doi.org/10.1016/S1090-5138(99)00015-XGet rights and content

Abstract

This article reports an association between the variation of dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4) allele frequencies around the globe and population migration patterns in prehistoric times. After compiling existing data on DRD4 allele frequencies of 2,320 individuals from 39 populations and on the migration pattern of these groups, we found that, compared to sedentary populations, migratory populations showed a higher proportion of long alleles for DRD4. The correlation between macro-migration (long-distance group migration) and the proportion of long alleles of DRD4 was .85 (p < .001), and that between micro-migration (sedentary vs. nomadic settlement) and the proportion of long alleles was .52 (p = .001). We discussed the adaptive value of long alleles of DRD4—a genetic trait that has been linked in some studies to the personality trait of novelty-seeking and to hyperactivity— in migratory societies and the possibility of natural selection for a migration gene.

Section snippets

Data on the Gene

Data on the global distribution of DRD4 allele frequencies were compiled from 12 studies Castro et al. 1997, Chang et al. 1996, Ebstein et al. 1996, Gelernter et al. 1997, Geijer et al. 1997, Hong et al. 1997, Inoue et al. 1993, Li et al. 1997, Nanko et al. 1993, Ono et al. 1997, Petronis et al. 1992, Tanaka et al. 1995. [It should be noted that most studies included both samples with psychiatric disorders and controls. Only data from controls (i.e., normal samples) were included in this

Association between Migration and DRD4 Allele Frequencies

Table 2 shows societies' names, geographical locations, macro-migration, the two indices of DRD4 allele frequency distribution, and allele sample size. Results are shown separately by migration routes. Overall, a clear and common pattern emerged from these data. The populations that remained near their origins showed a lower proportion of long alleles of DRD4 than those that migrated farther away. This finding was consistent across all six migration routes.

For the first route of migration (from

Discussion

Given the common origin of human beings, genetic variations among groups mainly result from spontaneous mutation, founders' effects, and natural selection. The systematic and strong association between migration and the allele frequencies of the DRD4 gene has ruled out proposals about spontaneous mutation or genetic drift (Chang et al. 1996). We also provided indirect evidence that founders' effects cannot adequately account for the global variations in the DRD4 gene. Taken together with all

Endnote

Levinson 1991

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank James Swanson for introducing us to the research on DRD4 and Carol Whalen for educating us about the research on ADHD. We also want to thank Henry Harpending, Kim Romney, Harry Triandis, George Knight, Martin Daly, Margo Wilson, and an anonymous reviewer for their comments on an earlier version of this article. Finally, we are indebted to Malcolm Dow for suggesting the network regression approach.

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