Genome-wide analysis of the structure of the South African Coloured Population in the Western Cape.
Admixed populations present unique opportunities to discover the genetic factors underlying many multifactorial diseases. The geographical position and complex history of South Africa has led to the establishment of the unique admixed population known as the South African Coloured. Not much is known about the genetic make-up of this population, and the historical record is patchy. We genotyped 959 individuals from the Western Cape area, self-identified as belonging to this population, using the Affymetrix 500k genotyping platform. This resulted in nearly 75,000 autosomal SNPs that could be compared with populations represented in the International HapMap Project and the Human Genome Diversity Project. Analysis by means of both the admixture and linkage models in STRUCTURE revealed that the major ancestral components of this population are predominantly Khoesan (32-43%), Bantu-speaking Africans (20-36%), European (21-28%) and a smaller Asian contribution (9-11%), depending on the model used. This is consistent with historical data. While of great historical and genealogical interest, this information is also essential for future admixture mapping of disease genes in this population.
de Wit
Erika
E
Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, MRC Centre for Molecular and Cellular Biology, DST/NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical TB Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, PO Box 19063, Tygerberg, 7505, South Africa.
Delport
Wayne
W
Rugamika
Chimusa E
CE
Meintjes
Ayton
A
Möller
Marlo
M
van Helden
Paul D
PD
Seoighe
Cathal
C
Hoal
Eileen G
EG
D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics; D044383:Black People / Q000235:genetics*; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000235:genetics; D016678:Genome; D005838:Genotype; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D044382:Population Groups / Q000235:genetics*; D012106:Research; D013019:South Africa; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics