What populations were included in the first phases of the International HapMap Project?

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Diagram of a DNA double helix showing its twisted ladder structure, with a close-up of the sugar-phosphate backbone, paired nitrogenous bases (adenine, thymine, cytosine, guanine), and labeled nucleotides and hydrogen bonds. — human genome The human genome is made up of approximately three billion base pairs of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). The bases of DNA are adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G), and cytosine (C).

The first two phases of the International HapMap Project, Phases I and II, analyzed DNA samples from 270 individuals representing four distinct populations. These groups included:1

Japanese individuals1
Americans of European descent1
Members of the Han Chinese ethnic group1
Members of the Yoruba people of Nigeria1

The project aimed to identify genetic variations, specifically single nucleotide polymorphisms, to better understand how human genome variations contribute to human disease. While this research raised ethical concerns regarding potential stigmatization or discrimination based on genetic risk factors, it remains a fundamental effort in advancing medical science and population-based screening technologies.1