rs16891982 SLC45A2
SLC45A2 variant associated with lighter skin and hair. Nearly fixed in European populations.
What is rs16891982?
rs16891982 is a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the SLC45A2 gene (Solute carrier family 45 member 2 (pigmentation)). Each person carries two copies, one from each parent, so a result is reported as a pair of letters such as GG. The table below describes what studies associate with each genotype; the association is statistical, across populations, and is not a diagnosis.
What does each rs16891982 genotype mean?
| Genotype | Association | What the evidence says | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| GG | typical / lower | SLC45A2 variant associated with lighter skin and hair. Nearly fixed in European populations. | 90% |
| GC / CG | typical / lower | Heterozygous SLC45A2. Mixed pigmentation signal. | 75% |
| CC | typical / lower | Ancestral SLC45A2. Common in non-European populations. | 88% |
How common is the G allele of rs16891982?
Minor-allele frequency by population (gnomAD / 1000 Genomes):
| European | 96.0% |
|---|---|
| East Asian | 0.1% |
| African | 1.0% |
| South Asian | 15.0% |
| Admixed American | 50.0% |
| Global | 35.0% |
Is rs16891982 on 23andMe and AncestryDNA chips?
Yes — it is genotyped directly on 23andMe V3, 23andMe V4, 23andMe V5, AncestryDNA V1, AncestryDNA V2. Orviva reads it from a raw-data export without imputation.
Sources
Upload your 23andMe, AncestryDNA or WeGene raw file → · Ask G2: “What is my genotype at rs16891982 and what does it mean for me?”
Genetic associations describe risk across populations, not a diagnosis for any one person. Most variants shift risk modestly and act alongside lifestyle, environment and other genes. Consumer DNA chips do not read every position and can be wrong at any single one. For general education only; talk to a clinician or genetic counsellor before acting on anything here, and never change a prescribed medicine without your prescriber.