Abstract
A sample of 312 individuals belonging to Sheikh (80), Pathan (54), Ansari (82), Syed (33), Saifi (33) and Hindu Bania (30) populations were surveyed for four protein and three enzyme loci comprising 12 alleles. The markers used were protein (transferrin, haptoglobin, haemoglobin) and enzyme (lactate dehydrogenase, phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, adenylate kinase). Except caeruloplasmin, variants were found among all loci, though no rare variant appears. The Populations show genetic equilibrium for all of the loci. Our gene frequencies show some difference from earlier studies for Muslims in general, there being no biradari wise study among Sunni Muslims earlier done anywhere ill India or abroad. Heterozygosity ranged from 0.0123 to 0.1994 (Sheikh), 0.0182 to 0.2046 (Pathan), 0.0239 to 0.1844 (Ansari), 0.0587 to 0.3966 (Syed), 0 to 0.3909 (Bania); the average DST and GST values for the seven marker loci were 0.001032 and 0.00879, respectively. The results are discussed. The gene frequency study shows closer relationship of Ansaris and Saifis with native Hindu Banias, and may reflect oil their probable conversion in the not remote past.