title: Sub-Saharan genetic contribution in Morocco: microsatellite DNA analysis.
abstract: Northwest African populations occupy a strategic geographical area that has always been a zone of influence for diverse human groups from different regions. This article focuses on the analysis of the genetic contribution of sub-Saharan African populations by means of four short tandem repeat (STR) systems (HUMTPOX, HUMVWA31/A, HUMTHO1, and HUMF13B), which have proven informative in establishing genetic relationships between human populations. Genetic trees and multivariate analyses of European and Near Eastern populations show that the Moroccan population shares a common genetic substrate with all of them. However, the latter defines a specific lineage. Evolutionary factors inherent in the population's geographical isolation in early times, together with genetic flow from sub-Saharan populations (mainly as reflected by HUMF13B and HUMTPOX), appear to be particularly relevant in understanding the peculiarities of the genetic character of the present-day population.
authors.affiliation: Area de Antropoloxia, Facultade be Bioloxia, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dios
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Luis
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Carril
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Caeiro
mesh_terms: D017954:Africa South of the Sahara; D044383:Black People / Q000235:genetics*; D004641:Emigration and Immigration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency / Q000235:genetics*; D006580:Genetic Carrier Screening; D005828:Genetics, Population; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics*; D009018:Morocco; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010375:Pedigree; D010641:Phenotype; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics*