Genetic variation in the human population of the Isle of Wight

Abstract

This work comprises the prediction, description and explanation of genetic variation between the Isle of Wight and the southern English mainland, and within the Island itself. A review of the archaeological and historical evidence does little to support the belief that the Isle of Wight was colonised by any particularly distinct population such as the Jutes; nor does it indicate that isolation of the Island from the mainland has been complete enough to permit random differentiation between them. Social and economic differences within the Island might possibly give rise to genetic heterogeneity through differential migration or random effects. Demographic studies of the modern population confirm that genetic differences from the mainland are unlikely. The distribution of blood groups, isoenzymes and serum proteins substantiates the prediction of no difference between Island and mainland. Within the Isle of Wight a difference in ABO frequencies is observed between long-established families and others, and this is probably a real difference in spite of ambiguities of sampling. Genetic variation within the Island, as measured by genetic distance, reflects road distances between settlements and internal migration, rather than the total pattern of migration including immigration.