Genetic variations among three major ethnic groups in Nigeria using RAPD

Genetically, every individual is unique; this may stem from inheritance, geographical locations, and/or environmental interactions. This study examined the possibility of developing a cheap and easy-to-use marker that can distinguish among the three ethnic groups in Nigeria using RAPD-PCR. Five RAPD primers, OPA1-3 and OPC1-2, were randomly selected and used to amplify DNA samples isolated from blood of eighteen human subjects representing the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria (six subjects each). Genomic DNAs were extracted using DNA isolation kit, RAPD-PCR amplification was performed and gel electrophoresis was done. Genetic similarity between the band polymorphism was evaluated as frequencies of occurrence and the phylogenetic tree constructed. Three of the five primers show various polymorphisms; the highest frequency band for primer OPA1 is 50% while that of primer OPA2 is 100% and for OPC2 is 83.33%. Although OPA2 has common bands in majority of the samples few of the bands are ethnic group specific. Bands 471 and 435 bp are specific for the Hausa ethnic group at 66.67% frequency. Similarly, in primer OPC2, band 320 can be used to distinguish the Hausas from the other two ethnic groups. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and test for homogeneity showed that there is no significant difference in the polymorphism between and among the groups. In conclusion this research has given an insight into the possibility of developing RAPD primers that could be used to distinguish people of different ethnic groups.