title: Genomic structure of the immigrant Siddis of East Africa to southern India: a study of 20 autosomal DNA markers.
abstract: The Siddis are a tribal group of African origin living in Karnataka, India. They have undergone considerable cultural change due to their proximity to neighboring population groups. To understand the biological consequences of these changes, we describe the genomic structure of the Siddis and the contribution from putative ancestral populations using 20 autosomal DNA markers. The distribution of Alu indel markers and a genetic distance analysis reveals their closer affinities with Africans. The levels of genomic diversity and heterozygosity are high in all the populations of southern India. Genetic admixture analysis reveals a predominant contribution from Africans, a lesser contribution from south Indians, and a slight one from Europeans. There is no evidence of gametic disequilibrium in the Siddis. The genetic homogeneity of the Siddis, in spite of its admixed origin, suggests the utility of this population for genetic epidemiological studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, University of Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Mansi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gauniyal
authors.forename: Aastha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aggarwal
authors.forename: Gautam K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Kshatriya
mesh_terms: D000351:Africa, Eastern / Q000208:ethnology; D044383:Black People / Q000235:genetics; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000235:genetics*; D005060:Europe / Q000208:ethnology; D051456:Gene Flow; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005819:Genetic Markers; D014644:Genetic Variation; D015894:Genome, Human; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers