Study: Genomes can vary by region

DAVIS, Calif., Nov. 10 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers say they've found variations in genomes among ethnic groups and subgroups, with clear regional differences.

University of California-Davis Professor Michael Seldin and graduate student Chao Tian, along with Dr. Peter Gregersen of the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, analyzed a multi-center genetics study that scanned the genomes of 4,000 people across Europe and found the regional differences.

The researchers said their findings are critical in the analysis of genetic studies because not knowing an individual's ancestry could result in statistical errors that alter the outcome of the study.

"Until now, scientists have depended on a person's knowledge of their ancestral roots when they study human populations to look for risk genes," said Gregersen, head of the Center for Genomics and Human Genetics at the Feinstein Institute. But he said even among racial groups there can be significant differences in the frequencies of certain genetic alleles.

The study appears in the journal Molecular Medicine.