Abstract for presentation at 11th International Congress of Human Genetics

Phenotypical Characterisation of the Isolated Norfolk Island Population Focusing on Epidemiological Indicators of Cardiovascular Disease

  • Claire Bellis, Genomics Research Centre, School of Medical Sciences, Griffith University Gold Coast, Australia
  • Dr Roger Hughes, Genomics Research Centre, School of Medical Sciences, Griffith University Gold Coast, Australia
  • Ms Kimberly Begley, Division of Information Services, Griffith University Gold Coast, Australia
  • Ms Sharon Quinlan, Genomics Research Centre, School of Medical Sciences, Griffith University Gold Coast, Australia
  • Dr Rod Lea, Genomics Research Centre, School of Medical Sciences, Griffith University Gold Coast, Australia
  • Dr Simon Heath, Centre National de Genotypage, Evry, France, France
  • Prof John Blangero, Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research, San Antonio, Texas, USA, United States
  • Prof Lyn Griffiths, Genomics Research Centre, School of Medical Sciences, Griffith University Gold Coast, Australia

    • Objectives: Only 193 people from Pitcairn Island, all descended from 9 ‘Bounty’ mutineers and 12 Tahitian women, moved to the uninhabited Norfolk Island in 1856. Our objective was to assess the population of Norfolk Island, several thousand km off the eastern coast of Australia, as a genetic isolate of potential use for cardiovascular disease (CVD) gene mapping.
    Methods: A total of 602 participants, approximately two thirds of the island’s present adult population, were characterized for a panel of CVD risk factors. Statistical power and heritability were calculated.
    Results: Norfolk Islander’s possess an increased prevalence of hypertension, obesity and multiple CVD risk factors when compared to outbred Caucasian populations. 64 percent of the study participants were descendents of the island’s original founder population. Triglycerides, cholesterol, and blood pressures all had heritabilities above 0.2.
    Conclusions: The Norfolk Island population is a potentially useful genetic isolate for gene mapping studies aimed at identifying CVD risk factor quantitative trait loci (QTL).

    Conference Organiser - ICMS Pty Ltd