The generalized Wright's model and population structure with special reference to the ABO blood group system

For any k allelic autosomal system, a new model involving exactly (k-1) (k+2)/2 independent parameters is proposed and called the generalized Wright's model. The (k-1) (k+2)/2-(k-1) additional parameters, apart from k-1 gene frequencies, are introduced as certain F statisitcs analogous to the so called inbreeding coefficient F. Problems of testing the equality, detection, and estimation of the F statistics are briefly discussed. A composite F statistic, as a function of the various F statistics, is introduced, and the effects of population subdivision on the composite F statistic are studied. The methodology is illustrated using data on the ABO blood group system.