Korean J Phys Anthropol.  2008 Dec;21(4):287-291.

Evaluation of Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Responsible for the Determination of Earwax Type in Koreans

• Kim DK

Abstract

The ABCC11 gene is a member of the ATP-binding cassette gene family. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the ABCC11 gene is associated with the determination of human earwax type. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the allelic frequencies of this gene in Korean population samples. A total of 619 individuals were analyzed by Dde I restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs). The genotype frequency of dry earwax in Koreans was very high. The proportions of dry/dry genotype found were 99% (99/100) in normal controls; 98.1% (207/211) in patients with schizophrenia; 99% (99/100) in patients with breast cancer; 96% (48/50) patients with uterine myoma; 98.3% (59/60) in obesity subjects; 100% (43/43) in patients with stomach cancer, and 98.2% (54/55) in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) patients. The wet/wet genotype was not found. There were no significant differences in the distribution of earwax genotypes between controls and experimental groups. These results suggest that the frequency of dry earwax are very high, and therefore the SNP determining earwax type will not be useful in genetic studies of the process involved in various diseases or pathologic conditions in Korean populations.

Keyword

Earwax type; Polymorphism; ABCC11 gene

MeSH Terms

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity
Breast
Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene
Genotype
Humans
Obesity
Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
Stomach Neoplasms
Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene