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. 1970 Jul;66(3):920–927. doi: 10.1073/pnas.66.3.920

Chromosome Aberrations among the Yanomama Indians*

Arthur D Bloom 1,†, James V Neel 1, Kyoo W Choi 1, Shozo Iida 1, Napoleon Chagnon 1
PMCID: PMC283139  PMID: 5269253

Abstract

The chromosomes of leucocytes cultured from the peripheral blood of 49 primitive Yanomama Indians of Venezuela were studied to determine the types and frequencies of aberrations in a human population not exposed to the same exogenous agents as civilized man. In all but one instance, 100 cells per individual were scored. In 13 cases, we found one or more cells with multiple complex breaks and rearrangements, represented by tetracentric, tricentric, and numerous dicentric chromosomes. From the standpoint of chromosomal damage, these cells are among the most abnormal cells yet described in vivo in man, and were not seen in the controls. There was also a higher than expected frequency of cells with an isolated structural aberration in both Indians and controls. This may be the result of a 24- to 48-hour delay in the initiation of culture. The cause of the more extensive damage to some cells remains to be determined.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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