Y-chromosome evidence for differing ancient demographic histories in the Americas.
To scrutinize the male ancestry of extant Native American populations, we examined eight biallelic and six microsatellite polymorphisms from the nonrecombining portion of the Y chromosome, in 438 individuals from 24 Native American populations (1 Na Dené and 23 South Amerinds) and in 404 Mongolians. One of the biallelic markers typed is a recently identified mutation (M242) characterizing a novel founder Native American haplogroup. The distribution, relatedness, and diversity of Y lineages in Native Americans indicate a differentiated male ancestry for populations from North and South America, strongly supporting a diverse demographic history for populations from these areas. These data are consistent with the occurrence of two major male migrations from southern/central Siberia to the Americas (with the second migration being restricted to North America) and a shared ancestry in central Asia for some of the initial migrants to Europe and the Americas. The microsatellite diversity and distribution of a Y lineage specific to South America (Q-M19) indicates that certain Amerind populations have been isolated since the initial colonization of the region, suggesting an early onset for tribalization of Native Americans. Age estimates based on Y-chromosome microsatellite diversity place the initial settlement of the American continent at approximately 14,000 years ago, in relative agreement with the age of well-established archaeological evidence.
Bortolini
Maria-Catira
MC
Department of Biology, University College, London, United Kingdom.
Salzano
Francisco M
FM
Thomas
Mark G
MG
Stuart
Steven
S
Nasanen
Selja P K
SP
Bau
Claiton H D
CH
Hutz
Mara H
MH
Layrisse
Zulay
Z
Petzl-Erler
Maria L
ML
Tsuneto
Luiza T
LT
Hill
Kim
K
Hurtado
Ana M
AM
Castro-de-Guerra
Dinorah
D
Torres
Maria M
MM
Groot
Helena
H
Michalski
Roman
R
Nymadawa
Pagbajabyn
P
Bedoya
Gabriel
G
Bradman
Neil
N
Labuda
Damian
D
Ruiz-Linares
Andres
A
D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics* / Q000266:history; D002170:Canada; D041322:Chromosomes, Human, Y; D004641:Emigration and Immigration / Q000266:history*; D005819:Genetic Markers; D005828:Genetics, Population / Q000266:history*; D006239:Haplotypes; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000235:genetics* / Q000266:history; D007199:Indians, South American / Q000235:genetics* / Q000266:history; D008297:Male; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012800:Siberia; D013020:South America
D005819:Genetic Markers