Abstract: Using the starch gel electrophoresis and specific staining, we analysed the ADA polymorphism of nine ethnic groups in China. The highest frequency of ADA2 gene was found in the Bai ethnic group (0. 0735) , and the lowest in the Tujia (0. 0300) . There was a significant difference between them. The frequencies of ADA2 in the Uygur, Yi, Hui, Tibetan, Manzu, Dong, Miao ethnic groups were 0. 0654, 0. 0622, 0. 0610, 0. 0547, n. 0485, 0. 0450, 0. 0320, respectively. There was no significant difference among them, and with those of Bai and Tujia ethnid groups.

Key words: Adenosine deaminase; Genetic polymorphism; National minorities