Geographic patterns of genome admixture in Latin American Mestizos.
The large and diverse population of Latin America is potentially a powerful resource for elucidating the genetic basis of complex traits through admixture mapping. However, no genome-wide characterization of admixture across Latin America has yet been attempted. Here, we report an analysis of admixture in thirteen Mestizo populations (i.e. in regions of mainly European and Native settlement) from seven countries in Latin America based on data for 678 autosomal and 29 X-chromosome microsatellites. We found extensive variation in Native American and European ancestry (and generally low levels of African ancestry) among populations and individuals, and evidence that admixture across Latin America has often involved predominantly European men and both Native and African women. An admixture analysis allowing for Native American population subdivision revealed a differentiation of the Native American ancestry amongst Mestizos. This observation is consistent with the genetic structure of pre-Columbian populations and with admixture having involved Natives from the area where the Mestizo examined are located. Our findings agree with available information on the demographic history of Latin America and have a number of implications for the design of association studies in population from the region.
Wang
Sijia
S
The Galton Laboratory, Department of Biology, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
Ray
Nicolas
N
Rojas
Winston
W
Parra
Maria V
MV
Bedoya
Gabriel
G
Gallo
Carla
C
Poletti
Giovanni
G
Mazzotti
Guido
G
Hill
Kim
K
Hurtado
Ana M
AM
Camrena
Beatriz
B
Nicolini
Humberto
H
Klitz
William
W
Barrantes
Ramiro
R
Molina
Julio A
JA
Freimer
Nelson B
NB
Bortolini
Maria Cátira
MC
Salzano
Francisco M
FM
Petzl-Erler
Maria L
ML
Tsuneto
Luiza T
LT
Dipierri
José E
JE
Alfaro
Emma L
EL
Bailliet
Graciela
G
Bianchi
Nestor O
NO
Llop
Elena
E
Rothhammer
Francisco
F
Excoffier
Laurent
L
Ruiz-Linares
Andrés
A
D044467:American Indian or Alaska Native / Q000235:genetics*; D044383:Black People / Q000235:genetics; D041321:Chromosomes, Human, X / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005828:Genetics, Population; D015894:Genome, Human; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America; D008297:Male; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics*