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Other Affected Mammals
Mice
Gene Affected
HFE–/–
Phenotypes
Bottlenose Dolphins
Non Hereditary
Metabolic
Cattle
Hereditary (classic) Hemochromatosis
HFE Gene
Chromosome 6
Base Pair Substitution
Most Commonly found in Humans
Europe & European Descendants
Ancient Bog people of Ireland
Sexual Selection
Endogamy in small communities
is prevalent
Improves chance of mating success
Common for preserve traditions and resources
Divergent Evolution
Rats, Horses, Dolphins and Humans are all mammals who descended from a common ancestor into new species
They all share the possibility of inheriting the HFE mutation or similar Phenotypes
Ecological Isolation
Genetic Drift
The Bog People live in an isolated environment
Founder Affect
Immigration of Celtic People from Northern Spain
Viking invasions
Great Change in Allele Frequency of New Population
Genetic Drift
Increase in the number of carriers of Hemochromatosis syndrome in the Bog People population
More carriers in a small endogamous population leading to a greater chance of children inheriting Hemochromatosis
Reason for increasing number of carriers
Increased fitness in Environment
Advancements in medicine & technology help people (including carriers) to live. Allowing carriers to reproduce with others risking the chance of mating with another carrier.
Irish Migrators/ Bog People create larger population numbers that are able to reproduce (middle aged)
Affects of Hemochromatosis only present later in life (around 50s)
Most Common in
How does Hemochromatosis still exist?
Autosomal Recessive Inheritance
Carriers of Hemochromatosis mutation are unaffected with no phenotypes of the disorder
HFE gene
Both recessive alleles to be passed to children
Type 2 (Juvenile hemochromatosis)
HFE2 or HAMP genes
Type 3 (TFR2 Related)
Transferrin receptor 2 gene (TFR2)
Chromosome 7