The origin of Mosuo people as revealed by mtDNA and Y chromosome variation.
The Mosuo, living in the Lugu Lake area in northwest Yunnan Province, China, is the only matriarchal population in China. The Mosuo was officially identified as Naxi nationality although its relationship with Naxi remains controversial. We studied the genetic relationship between the Mosuo and five other ethnic groups currently residing in northwest Yunnan, i.e. Naxi, Tibetan, Bai, Yi and Pumi, by typing the genetic variations in mtDNA HVS1 and 21 Y chromosome markers (13 SNPs & 8 STR markers). We showed that the maternal lineages of the Mosuo bear the strongest resemblance with those found in Naxi while its paternal lineages are more similar to those that are prevalent in Yunnan Tibetan. The marked difference between paternal and maternal lineages may be attributable to the genetic history, matriarchal structure, and visiting marriage.
Bo
Wen
W
Joined Laboratory of Human Population Genetics of Yunnan University and Fudan University, Kunming 650091, China.
Hong
Shi
S
Ling
Ren
R
Huifeng
Xi
X
Kaiyuan
Li
L
Wenyi
Zhang
Z
Bing
Su
S
Shiheng
Si
S
Li
Jin
J
Chunjie
Xiao
X
D001483:Base Sequence; D002681:China; D041322:Chromosomes, Human, Y / Q000235:genetics*; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000235:genetics*; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
D017931:DNA Primers; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial