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PMID: 18039031 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Genetic variation and population structure in native Americans.

PLoS genetics ·Vol. 3 ·No. 11 ·2007-11-00 ·Pages e185

Wang S, Lewis CM, Jakobsson M, Ramachandran S, Ray N, Bedoya G, Rojas W, Parra MV, Molina JA, Gallo C, Mazzotti G, Poletti G, Hill K, Hurtado AM, Labuda D, Klitz W, Barrantes R, Bortolini MC, Salzano FM, Petzl-Erler ML, Tsuneto LT, Llop E, Rothhammer F, Excoffier L, Feldman MW, Rosenberg NA, Ruiz-Linares A

Abstract

We examined genetic diversity and population structure in the American landmass using 678 autosomal microsatellite markers genotyped in 422 individuals representing 24 Native American populations sampled from North, Central, and South America. These data were analyzed jointly with similar data available in 54 other indigenous populations worldwide, including an additional five Native American groups. The Native American populations have lower genetic diversity and greater differentiation than populations from other continental regions. We observe gradients both of decreasing genetic diversity as a function of geographic distance from the Bering Strait and of decreasing genetic similarity to Siberians--signals of the southward dispersal of human populations from the northwestern tip of the Americas. We also observe evidence of: (1) a higher level of diversity and lower level of population structure in western South America compared to eastern South America, (2) a relative lack of differentiation between Mesoamerican and Andean populations, (3) a scenario in which coastal routes were easier for migrating peoples to traverse in comparison with inland routes, and (4) a partial agreement on a local scale between genetic similarity and the linguistic classification of populations. These findings offer new insights into the process of population dispersal and differentiation during the peopling of the Americas.

MeSH Terms
Alleles Chromosomes, Human/genetics Databases, Genetic Emigration and Immigration Gene Frequency Genetic Variation/genetics Geography Heterozygote Humans Indians, North American/genetics Language Linguistics Phylogeny Population Dynamics
Authors & Affiliations
27 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Wang Sijia
The Galton Laboratory, Department of Biology, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
Lewis Cecil M
Jakobsson Mattias
Ramachandran Sohini
Ray Nicolas
Bedoya Gabriel
Rojas Winston
Parra Maria V
Molina Julio A
Gallo Carla
Mazzotti Guido
Poletti Giovanni
Hill Kim
Hurtado Ana M
Labuda Damian
Klitz William
Barrantes Ramiro
Bortolini Maria Cátira
Salzano Francisco M
Petzl-Erler Maria Luiza
Tsuneto Luiza T
Llop Elena
Rothhammer Francisco
Excoffier Laurent
Feldman Marcus W
Rosenberg Noah A
Ruiz-Linares Andrés
Conflict of Interest

Competing interests. The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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Article Info
Journal
PLoS genetics
Abbr.
PLoS Genet
ISSN
1553-7404
DOI
10.1371/journal.pgen.0030185
Published
2007-11-00
Pages
e185
Language
English
Region
United States
NLM ID
101239074
PMCID
PMC2082466
Subset
IM
Grants
NIGMS NIH HHS · GM28016 · United States
NHGRI NIH HHS · T32 HG000040 · United States
NINDS NIH HHS · R01NS043538 · United States
NINDS NIH HHS · R01 NS043538 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · R01 GM028016 · United States
NHGRI NIH HHS · T32 HG00040 · United States
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.0030185 PMC Full Text View journal details
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