Microsatellite diversity among the primitive tribes of India

The present study was undertaken to determine the extent of diversity at 12 microsatellite short tandem repeat (STR) loci in seven primitive tribal populations of India with diverse linguistic and geographic backgrounds. DNA samples of 160 unrelated individuals were analyzed for 12 STR loci by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Gene diversity analysis suggested that the average heterozygosity was uniformly high ( >0.7) in these groups and varied from 0.705 to 0.794. The Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium analysis revealed that these populations were in genetic equilibrium at almost all the loci. The overall G(ST) value was high (G(ST) = 0.051; range between 0.026 and 0.098 among the loci), reflecting the degree of differentiation/heterogeneity of seven populations studied for these loci. The cluster analysis and multidimensional scaling of genetic distances reveal two broad clusters of populations, besides Moolu Kurumba maintaining their distinct genetic identity vis-à-vis other populations. The genetic affinity for the three tribes of the Indo-European family could be explained based on geography and Language but not for the four Dravidian tribes as reflected by the NJT and MDS plots. For the overall data, the insignificant MANTEL correlations between genetic, linguistic and geographic distances suggest that the genetic variation among these tribes is not patterned along geographic and/or linguistic lines.     

Migration distance rather than migration rate explains genetic diversity in human patrilocal groups

In patrilocal groups, females preferentially move to join their mate’s paternal relatives. The gender‐biased gene flow generated by this cultural practice is expected to affect genetic diversity across human populations. Greater female than male migration is predicted to result in a larger decrease in between‐group differentiation for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) than for the non‐recombining part of the Y chromosome (NRY). We address the question of how patrilocality affects the distribution of genetic variation in human populations controlling for confounding factors such as ethno‐linguistic heterogeneity and geographic distance which possibly explain the contradictory results observed in previous studies. By combining genetic and bio‐demographic data from Lesotho and Spain, we show that preferential female migration over short distances appears to minimize the impact of a generally higher female migration rate in patrilocal communities, suggesting patrilocality might influence genetic variation only at short ranges.     

Genetic diversity in Tunisia: a study based on the GM polymorphism of human immunoglobulins

The GM polymorphism of human immunoglobulins is analyzed in three Berber populations of southern Tunisia and compared to other GM data. Genetic diversity among Tunisian populations is higher than that among Europeans but does not exhibit any significant geographic or linguistic structure. This result suggests a complex pattern of genetic differentiation.     

濒危灌木长叶红砂遗传多样性的RAPD分析

应用RAPD分子标记对濒危灌木长叶红砂(Reaumuria trigyna)种群遗传多样性进行了分析.应用18条随机引物对长叶红砂5个种群的95个个体进行扩增,检测到118个位点,其中多态位点105个.结果表明:长叶红砂种群的多态位点比率(P)为88.98%,显示出长叶红砂种群存在较高的遗传多样性.Shannon多样性指数(0.4966)、Nei基因多样性指数(0.3303)和基因分化系数(Gst=0.1425)的分析结果显示,长叶红砂种群遗传变异大多存在于种群内,种群间的遗传分化占14.25%.聚类分析表明,长叶红砂种群遗传距离与地理距离之间无直接相关关系.遗传多样性水平与物种特性和所处不同群落有关,濒危植物并不一定表现为遗传变异水平的降低.     

Russian ethnic history inferred from mitochondrial DNA diversity

With the aim of gaining insight into the genetic history of the Russians, we have studied mitochondrial DNA diversity among a number of modern Russian populations. Polymorphisms in mtDNA markers (HVS-I and restriction sites of the coding region) of populations from 14 regions within present-day European Russia were investigated. Based on analysis of the mitochondrial gene pool geographic structure, we have identified three different elements in it and a vast "intermediate" zone between them. The analysis of the genetic distances from these elements to the European ethnic groups revealed the main causes of the Russian mitochondrial gene pool differentiation. The investigation of this pattern in historic perspective showed that the structure of the mitochondrial gene pool of the present-day Russians largely conforms to the tribal structure of the medieval Slavs who laid the foundation of modern Russians. Our results indicate that the formation of the genetic diversity currently observed among Russians can be traced to the second half of the first millennium A.D., the time of the colonization of the East European Plain by the Slavic tribes. Patterns of diversity are explained by both the impact of the native population of the East European Plain and by genetic differences among the early Slavs.     

珍稀濒危植物天目木兰（Magnolia amoena）遗传多样性的RAPD分析

运用随机扩增多态DNA(RAPD)技术,对天目木兰(Magnolia amoena)居群的遗传多样性进行了研究．从40个10-mer随机引物中筛选出14个能得到清晰、稳定扩增带的引物进行扩增,14个引物共检测了94个位点,其中多态性位点为23,占24．4％,计算了12个居群之间的遗传相似度和遗传距离,并运用UPGMA法进行了聚类分析,结果显示相同严地个体间(居群内)的遗传距离较小,遗传多样性水平很低;不同产地个体间(居群间)遗传距离较大,遗传多样性水平较前者高,即天目木兰个体间遗传多样性水平与它的地理分布有关,天目木兰总体较低的遗传多样性是导致它濒危的原因之一。     

Analysis of genetic diversity in Glyptosternum maculatum (Sisoridae, Siluriformes) populations with AFLP markers

We determined the genetic diversity of geographic populations from three spawning grounds (Nyang River, Lhasa River, Shetongmon Reach of Yarlung Zangbo River) of Glyptosternum maculatum with amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. Five primer combinations detected 332 products, 51 of them (15.4%) were polymorphic in at least one population. The Shetongmon population was found to be the richest in genetic diversity as was indicated by the percentage of polymorphic loci and heterozygosity, followed by the Nyang population and the Lhasa population. The pair-wise genetic distance between populations were all very close, ranging from 0.0015 to 0.0042 with an average of 0.0024. The genetic distance was not proportional to the geographic distance. The analysis of molecular variance demonstrated that all variation occurred within populations. The average estimated fixation index (F _st) of three populations across all polymorphic loci was −0.0184, indicating the absence of genetic differences among the three sampled populations. The differentiation among populations was not significant, and population structure was weak. Our observations will help identify the genetic relationship among populations as the first approach to understand the genetic diversity of Glyptosternum maculatum.     

Genetic diversity of the natural populations of Arabidopsis thaliana in China

Although extensive studies have been conducted on the genetic structure of Arabidopsis thaliana (A. thaliana) populations worldwide, the populations from China have never been studied. In this study, we collected 560 individuals from 19 natural populations of A. thaliana distributed in East China along the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, and two populations from northwest China (Xinjiang Province). We adopted two kinds of molecular marker, inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSRs) and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPDs) to investigate the genetic diversity within and among populations, and the correlation between the genetic and geographic distances. Thirteen ISSR primers produced 165 polymorphic bands (PPB) (96%) and 11 RAPD primers produced 162 polymorphic bands (98%) in about 560 individuals. The two marker systems generated similar patterns of genetic diversity in these natural populations. The AMOVA analysis indicated about 42-45% of the total genetic variation existed within populations, and found possible geographic structure. The Mantel test revealed a significant correlation between the geographic distance and the genetic distance of these populations in general. A close genetic relationship was found among four populations in the Jiangxi Province, and these always appeared clustered together as a monophyletic group in unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic averages dendrograms based on both ISSR and RAPD data sets. Based on the observation of recolonization and extinction of naturally distributed populations of A. thaliana, and the pattern of their genetic differentiation, the distribution of this species in China might be a result of natural dispersal under the strong influence of human activity.     

Global analysis of regional differences in craniometric diversity and population substructure.

Estimates of genetic diversity in major geographic regions are frequently made by pooling all individuals into regional aggregates. This method can potentially bias results if there are differences in population substructure within regions, since increased variation among local populations could inflate regional diversity. A preferred method of estimating regional diversity is to compute the mean diversity within local populations. Both methods are applied to a global sample of craniometric data consisting of 57 measurements taken on 1734 crania from 18 local populations in six geographic regions: sub-Saharan Africa, Europe, East Asia, Australasia, Polynesia, and the Americas. Each region is represented by three local populations. Both methods for estimating regional diversity show sub-Saharan Africa to have the highest levels of phenotypic variation, consistent with many genetic studies. Polynesia and the Americas both show high levels of regional diversity when regional aggregates are used, but the lowest mean local population diversity. Regional estimates of F(ST) made using quantitative genetic methods show that both Polynesia and the Americas also have the highest levels of differentiation among local populations, which inflates regional diversity. Regional differences in F(ST) are directly related to the geographic dispersion of samples within each region; higher F(ST) values occur when the local populations are geographically dispersed. These results show that geographic sampling can affect results, and suggest caution in making inferences regarding regional diversity when population substructure is ignored.     

中国东南沿海弹涂鱼科常见鱼类的遗传多样性和DNA条形码

为了探究中国东南沿海海岸线经济开发、海水污染等对该区域生物遗传多样性的潜在影响,本文使用COI基因作为DNA条形码,对从中国东南沿海广东汕头、福建东山、福建云霄、福建泉州、福建霞浦、上海崇明6个地点采集的大弹涂鱼(Boleophthalmus pectinirostris)、弹涂鱼(Periophthalmus modestus)和青弹涂鱼(Scartelaos histophorus)进行种间和种内的遗传学分析。遗传多样性分析显示,青弹涂鱼的核苷酸多样性(0.0018)在3个种中最低;青弹涂鱼广东汕头种群的核苷酸多样性(0.0018)比福建云霄种群低;大弹涂鱼的上海崇明种群核苷酸多样性(0.0021)低于其他5个地理种群。物种水平分析表明,3个物种间分化明显,种间与种内遗传距离有明显差异;不同种的单倍型在系统发育树上聚成3个高度支持的独立分支。种群水平分析显示,大弹涂鱼的6个不同地理种群之间有共享单倍型,地理种群间与地理种群内的遗传距离重叠;各地理种群之间的基因流较频繁(Nm>4);青弹涂鱼的分析情况与大弹涂鱼基本一致。大弹涂鱼和青弹涂鱼的单倍型在系统发育树上均呈现多系或并系分布格局,并未按地理位置分成不同的单系群。本研究表明,应及时加强3种鱼类及其野生种群遗传多样性的保护,且COI基因对种一级的识别明确可靠,而在地理种群水平的识别则比较困难,有待进一步深入研究。     

Genetic distance and gene diversity among linguistically different tribes of Mexican Indians.

Using gene frequency data for 14 genetic loci, genetic distances between 13 tribes of Mexican Indians belonging to 12 language groups were determined and a dendrogram was constructed. The genetic distance between tribes is correlated more with geographic proximity than with language affinity. The gene diversity (heterozygosity) of the total population was decomposed into the three components, i.e., the gene diversity between three main linguistic groups, the gene diversity between tribes within the main linguistic groups and the gene diversity within tribes. About 95% of the total gene diversity exists within tribes, the intergroup and intertribe components being only about 5%.     

Human genetic affinities for Y-chromosome P49a,f/TaqI haplotypes show strong correspondence with linguistics.

Numerous population samples from around the world have been tested for Y chromosome-specific p49a,f/TaqI restriction polymorphisms. Here we review the literature as well as unpublished data on Y-chromosome p49a,f/TaqI haplotypes and provide a new nomenclature unifying the notations used by different laboratories. We use this large data set to study worldwide genetic variability of human populations for this paternally transmitted chromosome segment. We observe, for the Y chromosome, an important level of population genetics structure among human populations (FST = .230, P < .001), mainly due to genetic differences among distinct linguistic groups of populations (FCT = .246, P < .001). A multivariate analysis based on genetic distances between populations shows that human population structure inferred from the Y chromosome corresponds broadly to language families (r = .567, P < .001), in agreement with autosomal and mitochondrial data. Times of divergence of linguistic families, estimated from their internal level of genetic differentiation, are fairly concordant with current archaeological and linguistic hypotheses. Variability of the p49a,f/TaqI polymorphic marker is also significantly correlated with the geographic location of the populations (r = .613, P < .001), reflecting the fact that distinct linguistic groups generally also occupy distinct geographic areas. Comparison of Y-chromosome and mtDNA RFLPs in a restricted set of populations shows a globally high level of congruence, but it also allows identification of unequal maternal and paternal contributions to the gene pool of several populations.     

青藏高原濒危植物唐古特大黄的遗传多样性

唐古特大黄(Rheum tanguticum)是中国传统的中藏药材,近几年由于生境的严重破坏,已濒临灭绝,并被列入濒危植物名单。为了探索唐古特大黄物种濒危的原因并保护其野生资源,本研究采集了9个居群87个个体的唐古特大黄样本,基于该物种的叶绿体基因trn S-G序列对其进行了遗传多样性研究。结果表明,唐古特大黄物种具有较高的遗传多样性水平(Ht=0.694),其中95.97%的遗传分化来自于居群间(G_(ST)=0.960),4.03%的遗传分化来自于居群内(Hs=0.028)。AMOVA分析也显示唐古特大黄居群间基因流较小(N_m=0.01),存在较高的遗传分化(F_(ST)=0.9631)。唐古特大黄较高的遗传多样性水平可能与该物种较长的进化史和生活史有关,居群间较高的遗传分化可能与高山地区特殊的地理环境和人类活动有关。根据研究结果,建议对唐古特大黄所有野生居群进行就地保护,同时收集种质资源开展异地繁殖工作,以保护物种的遗传多样性,维持其进化潜力。     

AFLP analysis of genetic diversity of the endangered species Sinopodophyllum hexandrum in the Tibetan region of Sichuan Province, China

Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers were used to estimate the genetic diversity of seven wild populations of Sinopodophyllum hexandrum (Royle) Ying from the Tibetan region of Sichuan Province, China. Six primer combinations generated a total of 428 discernible DNA fragments, of which 111 were polymorphic. The percentage of polymorphic bands (PPB) was 25.93 at the species level, and PPB within population ranged from 4.91 to 12.38%. Genetic diversity (H(E)) within populations varied from 0.01 to 0.04, averaging 0.05 at the species level. As revealed by the results of AMOVA analysis, 58.8% of the genetic differentiation occurred between populations, and 41.2% within populations. The genetic differentiation was, perhaps, due to the limited gene flow (Nm = 0.43) of the species. The correlation coefficient (r) between genetic and geographical distance using Mantel's test for all populations was 0.698 (P = 0.014). The UPGMA cluster analysis revealed a similar result in that the genetic distances among the populations show, to a certain extent, a spatial pattern corresponding to their geographic locations. On the basis of the genetic and ecological information, we propose some appropriate strategies for conserving the endangered S. hexandrum in this region.     

Chloroplast microsatellite diversity of Clintonia udensis (Liliaceae) populations in East Asia

Nineteen populations of Clintonia udensis Trautv. & Mey. were examined to quantify genetic diversity and genetic structure by chloroplast DNA microsatellites (cpSSR). Significant cpSSR genetic diversity (PPB = 63.64%) was detected in this species. Tetraploid populations demonstrated approximately the same level of genetic diversity as the diploid ones. A significant differentiation, however, was found between tetraploids and diploids. Most of the sixteen chloroplast haplotypes were limited to a single population. The level of haplotype diversity was high (Hd = 0.915). AMOVA, PCA and Bayesian clustering analysis revealed that there were significant genetic differences among populations. Inter-population genetic distances among population sites correlated significantly with geographic distances. These results indicate that the mixed-mating – breeding system, limited gene flow, environmental stress, and historical factors may be the main factors causing geographical differentiation in the genetic structure of C. udensis.     

Y-chromosomal diversity in Europe is clinal and influenced primarily by geography, rather than by language

Clinal patterns of autosomal genetic diversity within Europe have been interpreted in previous studies in terms of a Neolithic demic diffusion model for the spread of agriculture; in contrast, studies using mtDNA have traced many founding lineages to the Paleolithic and have not shown strongly clinal variation. We have used 11 human Y-chromosomal biallelic polymorphisms, defining 10 haplogroups, to analyze a sample of 3,616 Y chromosomes belonging to 47 European and circum-European populations. Patterns of geographic differentiation are highly nonrandom, and, when they are assessed using spatial autocorrelation analysis, they show significant clines for five of six haplogroups analyzed. Clines for two haplogroups, representing 45% of the chromosomes, are continentwide and consistent with the demic diffusion hypothesis. Clines for three other haplogroups each have different foci and are more regionally restricted and are likely to reflect distinct population movements, including one from north of the Black Sea. Principal-components analysis suggests that populations are related primarily on the basis of geography, rather than on the basis of linguistic affinity. This is confirmed in Mantel tests, which show a strong and highly significant partial correlation between genetics and geography but a low, nonsignificant partial correlation between genetics and language. Genetic-barrier analysis also indicates the primacy of geography in the shaping of patterns of variation. These patterns retain a strong signal of expansion from the Near East but also suggest that the demographic history of Europe has been complex and influenced by other major population movements, as well as by linguistic and geographic heterogeneities and the effects of drift.     

Human genome diversity

Human genome diversity studies analyse genetic variation among individuals and between populations in order to understand the origins and evolution of anatomically modern humans (Homo sapiens sapiens). The availability of thousands of DNA polymorphisms (genetic markers) brings analytic power to these studies. Human genome diversity studies have clearly shown that the large part of genetic variability is due to differences among individuals within populations rather than to differences between populations, effectively discrediting a genetic basis of the concept of ‘race’. Evidence from paleontology, archaeology and genetic diversity studies is quite consistent with an African origin of modern humans more than 100 000 years ago. The evidence favors migrations out of African as the source of the original peopling of Asia, Australia, Europe and Oceania. An international program for the scientific analysis of human genome diversity and of human evolution has been developed. The Human Genome Diversity Project (HGDP) aims to collect and preserve biologic samples from hundreds of populations throughout the world, make DNA from these samples available to scientists and distribute to the scientific community the results of DNA typing with hundreds of genetic markers.     

岛屿植物舟山新木姜子居群遗传多样性的RAPD分析

基于随机扩增多态 DNA(RAPD)方法分析了舟山群岛濒危植物舟山新木姜子 (N eolitsea sericea) 6个居群的遗传多样性及分化程度。 10条随机引物扩增出 84个可分析位点 ,多态位点百分比 (PPL)为 3 8.10 %。经 POPOGENE分析发现 ,舟山新木姜子居群平均水平的多态位点百分比 (PPL )为 2 3 .18% ,Nei' s基因多样度 (HE)为 0 .0 793 ,Shannon信息指数 (H )为 0 .12 0 1,与其它岛屿植物比较具有中等偏低水平的遗传多样性 ;岛屿各居群间遗传分化程度较高 (Gst=0 .3 646) ;地理距离与遗传距离之间具有显著相关性 (r=0 .7697,P=96.62 % ) ,岛屿隔离效应是导致居群间遗传分化的重要因素。结合居群遗传多样性及UPGMA聚类分析 ,推测普陀山岛舟山新木姜子部分个体可能为大猫岛迁入的后裔 ,而朱家尖岛舟山新木姜子则由人为移植自普陀山岛。基于舟山新木姜子的物种保护及资源利用 ,建议加强现有自然居群的就地保护 ,促进居群自然更新 ;建立种质资源库 ,收集不同岛屿的种源进行混合繁殖 ,促进基因交流 ;选育优良品系用于海岛植被恢复及园林观赏     

Mitochondrial DNA sequence diversity in three ethnic populations from the South-west Iran: a preliminary study

To investigate the genetic structure of human populations in the South-west region of Iran, mitochondrial first hypervariable DNA sequences were obtained from 50 individuals representing three different ethnic groups from Khuzestan Province. Studied groups were Shushtari Persians and Chahar Lang Bakhtiyaries from Indo-European-speaking populations and Bani Torof Arabs from Semitic-speaking linguistic families. Genetic analysis of mtDNA data showed high similarity of Chahar Lang Bakhtiyaries with other Iranian Indo-European-speaking populations while Shushtaries and Bani Torofs had a closer affinity with Semitic-speaking groups rather than to other Iranian populations. The relationship of Chahar Lang Bakhtiyaries and Bani Torof Arabs with their neighbor populations can be explained by linguistic and geographic proximity. Whereas, the greater similarity of Shushtari Persians with West Asian Arabs is probably according to high gene flow between them. This article represents a preliminary study of three major ethnic groups of South-west Iran which investigates the potential genetic substructure of the region.     

Apportionment of global human genetic diversity based on craniometrics and skin color

A number of analyses of classical genetic markers and DNA polymorphisms have shown that the majority of human genetic diversity exists within local populations (approximately 85%), with much less among local populations (approximately 5%) or between major geographic regions or "races" (approximately 10%). Previous analysis of craniometric variation (Relethford [1994] Am J Phys Anthropol 95:53-62) found that between 11-14% of global diversity exists among geographic regions, with the remaining diversity existing within regions. The methods used in this earlier paper are extended to a hierarchical partitioning of genetic diversity in quantitative traits, allowing for assessment of diversity among regions, among local populations within regions, and within local populations. These methods are applied to global data on craniometric variation (57 traits) and skin color. Multivariate analysis of craniometric variation shows results similar to those obtained from genetic markers and DNA polymorphisms: roughly 13% of the total diversity is among regions, 6% among local populations within regions, and 81% within local populations. This distribution is concordant with neutral genetic markers. Skin color shows the opposite pattern, with 88% of total variation among regions, 3% among local populations within regions, and 9% within local populations, a pattern shaped by natural selection. The apportionment of genetic diversity in skin color is atypical, and cannot be used for purposes of classification. If racial groups are based on skin color, it appears unlikely that other genetic and quantitative traits will show the same patterns of variation.