Distribution of the group specific (Gc) serum component in the populations of the Markham Valley, New Guinea

The distribution of the Gc phenotypes was determined by immunoelectrophoresis amongst 486 inhabitants of nine villages of the Markham River Valley of New Guinea. The overall gene frequencies were Gc 1 , 0.538; Gc 2 , 0.351; Gc Aborigine , 0.112. Gc Aborigine occurred in all the villages, its frequency ranging from 0.041 to 0.187. The Gc 2 gene frequency also varied widely ranging from 0.167 to 0.491. No correlation could be found between altitude and the Gc distribution and there was an overlap in the gene frequencies between the Austronesian and non‐Austronesian‐speaking villages.