Genetic polymorphism of mitochondrial DNA HVS-I and HVS-Ⅱ of Chinese Tu ethnic minority group

We analyzed the two hypervariable segments HVS-Ⅰ and HVS-Ⅱ of 108 Chinese Tu ethnic minority group samples for forensic and population genetics purposes.Comparing with Anderson sequence,79 polymorphic loci in HVS-Ⅰ and 40 in HVS-Ⅱ were found in Chi-nese Tu ethnic minority group mtDNA sequences,and 90 and 64 haplotypes were then defined.Haplotype diversity and the mean pair-wise differences were 0.9903±0.0013 and 5.7785 in HVS-Ⅰ,and 0.9777±0.0013 and 3.5819 in HVS-Ⅱ,respectively.By analyzing the hypervariable domain from nucleotide 1,6180 to 1,6193 in HVS-Ⅰ,we defined some new types of sequence variations.We also compared the relationship between Tu population and other populations using mtDNA HVS-Ⅰ sequences.According to Rst genetic distances,the phylogenetic tree showed that the Tu population,the Xi'an Han population,the Chinese Korean,and the Mongol ethnic group were in a clade.This indicated a close genetic relationship between them.There were far relations between the Tu population and other Chinese southern Han populations,Siberian,European,African,and other foreign populations.The results suggest that Tu population has a multi-origin and has also merged with other local populations.     

Genetic polymorphism analysis of 15 STR loci in Chinese Hui ethnic group residing in Qinghai province of China

In the present study, we investigated the diversity distributions of allelic frequencies of 15 short tandem repeats (STRs) loci in a sample of Chinese Hui ethnic group in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. The allelic frequencies of the 15 STR loci (D8S1179, D21S11, D7S820, CSF1PO, D3S1358, TH01, D13S317, D16S539, D2S1338, D19S433, vWA, TPOX, D18S51, D5S818 and FGA) were obtained from 2975 unrelated healthy Hui individuals. The STR genotyping data of all the samples were generated by DNA extraction, multiple amplification, GeneScan and genotype analysis. The genetic distances among different populations were calculated by using Nei's method and a phylogenetic tree was constructed based on the allelic frequencies of the same 15 STR loci using the neighbor-joining method. A total of 185 alleles were observed in the Hui population, with the corresponding allelic frequencies ranging from 0.0002 to 0.5322. Chi-Square tests showed that all STR loci were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The forensic statistical parameters of all the loci showed high values. The population data in this study were compared with the previously published population data from other ethnics or areas. The Hui population showed significant differences from the Minnan Han, Uigur, Ewenki, Yi, Tibetan, Maonan and Malay ethnic minority groups in some loci, and from the South Morocco population and the Moroccan population in all the loci. Our results are valuable for human individual identification and paternity testing in the Chinese Hui population and are expected to enrich the genetic information resources of Chinese populations.     

Genetic structure of Balearic honeybee populations based on microsatellite polymorphism

The genetic variation of honeybee colonies collected in 22 localities on the Balearic Islands (Spain) was analysed using eight polymorphic microsatellite loci. Previous studies have demonstrated that these colonies belong either to the African or west European evolutionary lineages. These populations display low variability estimated from both the number of alleles and heterozygosity values, as expected for the honeybee island populations. Although genetic differentiation within the islands is low, significant heterozygote deficiency is present, indicating a subpopulation genetic structure. According to the genetic differentiation test, the honeybee populations of the Balearic Islands cluster into two groups: Gimnesias (Mallorca and Menorca) and Pitiusas (Ibiza and Formentera), which agrees with the biogeography postulated for this archipelago. The phylogenetic analysis suggests an Iberian origin of the Balearic honeybees, thus confirming the postulated evolutionary scenario for Apis mellifera in the Mediterranean basin. The microsatellite data from Formentera, Ibiza and Menorca show that ancestral populations are threatened by queen importations, indicating that adequate conservation measures should be developed for protecting Balearic bees.     

Genetic analysis of twelve X-chromosomal STRs in Japanese and Chinese populations

We investigated the genetic markers of twelve X-STR loci in 670 healthy, unrelated Japanese (438 men and 232 women) from Tokyo and 488 Chinese (263 men and 225 women) from Shenyang, using the Investigator Argus X-12 kit. Allele and haplotype analyses of twelve X-STRs clustered into four linkage groups indicated that they are highly informative for forensic applications in Japanese and Chinese populations. Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium tests demonstrated no significant deviations in the two populations. Among the four closely linked X-STR trios, some haplotype unique to Japanese or Chinese population were detected. Haplotype diversity for each linkage group ranged from 0.9861 to 0.9968, showing high values in each of the study populations. The genetic distances between populations based on the 12 X-STR loci and the phylogenetic tree revealed long genetic distances between Asian and Caucasian populations and between Asian and African population (Moroccan). These results suggest that the twelve X-STR loci will contribute to forensic casework in Japanese and Chinese populations.     

Geographic structure in Gran Chaco Amerindians based on five X-chromosome STRs

We investigated the genetic differentiation of five X-chromosome STR markers among five native South American Amerindian populations inhabiting three different areas of the Gran Chaco: Mocoví, Chorote, Wichí, Lengua, and Ayoreo. The observed genetic structure showed correspondence with geographic distribution more clearly than previous information obtained from autosomal STRs for the same samples. On the other hand, X-chromosome STR data did not agree with linguistic affinities. These markers proved to be informative for the study of the native populations of the Gran Chaco region.     

Integrating patterns of polymorphism at SNPs and STRs

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and short tandem repeats (STRs) differ in mutation rate and mechanism. As a result of these differences, simultaneous consideration of polymorphism patterns at SNPs and STRs can provide insights that are difficult to obtain from analysis of either marker type in isolation. Here, we use coalescent simulations to model the opposing effects of contrasting mutational dynamics and of shared genealogical history on the correlation between polymorphism at linked SNPs and STRs. Results show that polymorphism patterns are correlated only weakly despite the shared underlying genealogy, underscoring the importance of divergent mutational processes. Examples illustrate how knowledge of these relationships could aid population genetic inference, indicating the need for thorough theoretical studies.     

广西仫佬族Y染色体和mtDNA的遗传结构分析

文章对我国广西仫佬族91个无关男性个体Y-STR、Y-SNP、mtDNA HVS-Ⅰ和mtDNA-SNP等进行检测分型, 探索仫佬族的分子遗传结构。结果显示：Y染色体单倍群O1a1-P203和O2a1*-M95在仫佬族中为高频单倍群, 利用Y-STR构建的N-J树中仫佬族与侗族聚类, 说明在父系遗传上仫佬族与侗族遗传关系较近; mtDNA中F1a、M*、B4a、B5a等4类单倍群高频出现, 体现出仫佬族在母系遗传方面具有典型的东亚南方群体特征。17个Y-STR位点和mtDNA HVS-Ⅰ具有丰富的遗传多态性, 在群体遗传学和法医学方面具有应用前景。     

Polymorphisms of the TIM-1 gene are associated with rheumatoid arthritis in the Chinese Hui minority ethnic population

The T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 1 (TIM-1) is known to be associated with susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We investigated the association of four single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoter region of the TIM-1 gene with susceptibility to RA in a Chinese Hui ethnic minority group. Using RFLP or sequence specific primer-PCR, 118 RA patients and 118 non-arthritis control individuals were analyzed for the -1637A>G, -1454G>A, -416G>C, and -232A>G SNPs in the TIM-1 gene. The polymorphisms -232A>G and -1637A>G in the promoter region of TIM-1 were found to be associated with susceptibility to the RA gene in the Hui population, while -416G>C and -1454G>A SNPs were not. Of these, the polymorphism of -232A>G is inconsistent with that found in a Korean population, suggesting that genetic variations of the TIM-1 gene contribute to RA susceptibility in different ways among different populations. Based on haplotype analysis, individuals with haplotypes AGCA (Χ(2) = 22.0, P < 0.01, OR (95%CI) >1), AGCG (Χ(2) = 18.16, P < 0.01, OR (95%CI) >1) and AGGA (Χ(2) = 5.58, P < 0.05, OR (95%CI) >1) are at risk to develop RA in the Chinese Hui population; those with the GAGA (Χ(2) = 7.44, P < 0.01, OR (95%CI) <1) haplotype may have a decreased likelihood of RA. GGCA and GGCG are more common in both RA and non-RA subjects. We conclude that -1637A>G and -232A>G polymorphisms of TIM-1 are associated with susceptibility to RA in the Chinese Hui population.     

Genetic characterization of the historical Albanian ethnic minority of Calabria (southern Italy)

Three historical ethnic minorities are present in Calabria: Albanians, Greeks, and Occitans. The Albanian ethnic minority is the more populous, having settled in Calabria between the 15th and 17th centuries, and these populations are now located in the provinces of Cosenza and Catanzaro. In the present study the Albanian population structure is analyzed based on the allele frequencies of six classic genetic markers: ACP, GC, PGM1, AK, ADA, and 6PGD. The results show a significant heterogeneity between the Albanian population in Calabria and the population in Molise. Therefore the cultural and reproductive isolation of the Albanian ethnic minority of Calabria is related to a great genetic peculiarity. Moreover, the frequencies of some alleles, particularly those of the PGM*1W31 variant, and the analysis of the R matrix still show the actual peculiar genetic structure of the Albanians of Calabria, although the genetic flow is evident in the decrease of endogamy and in the increase in the degree of mixing.     

21株马特组镰刀菌遗传多样性的ISSR分析

为明确马特组镰刀菌种间和种内的遗传差异与亲缘关系,本文利用ISSR分子标记技术对21个马特组菌株进行了遗传多样性分析.结果表明:利用筛选出的15条引物对3种供试菌株进行扩增,共扩增出239条条带,其中多态性条带230条,多态性位点比例为96.2％,平均每条引物产生条带数为15.3条.21个菌株间的遗传相似系数范围为0.494～0.933,平均为0.640.在遗传相似系数为0.593时,供试的21株马特组镰刀菌可明显分成2个ISSR类群(IG),IG-Ⅰ包括1～17号菌株,为Fusarium solani和F solani var.coeruleum;IG-Ⅱ包括18 ～21号菌株,全部为F.ventricosum.在遗传相似系数为0.933时,供试的21个菌株可被全部区分开.供试的镰刀菌基因组在SSR区域具有丰富的多态性;ISSR类群划分与菌种分类之间存在一定相关性,但与菌株的地理来源没有相关性;而同一类群中,不同菌株之间的遗传相似性与菌株的地理来源存在一定的相关性.同一地区同种寄主的相同菌种,其菌株间也存在一定的遗传差异.     

中国新疆灰叶胡杨群体遗传多样性的SSR分析

以中国新疆灰叶胡杨( Populus pruinosa)的9个天然居群的135个样品为材料,利用12对荧光SSR引物对其遗传多样性和遗传结构进行研究.结果表明:12对引物共检测到136个位点,平均每个引物11个条带,居群的平均多态位点比率平均为0.972、Shannon 指数(Ⅰ)平均为1.185、Nei指数(h)平均为0.541、观察杂合度Ho为0.321、期望杂合度He为0.560,表明灰叶胡杨的遗传多样性水平较丰富.9个灰叶胡杨天然居群中泽普居群的遗传多样性最为丰富,阿拉尔14团遗传多样性最为贫乏.AMOVA分子差异分析显示:12％的遗传变异存在居群间,88％的遗传变异则存在居群内,基因分化系数Gst为17.10％,证明灰叶胡杨居群的遗传分化程度较低.根据遗传分化系数,测得居群间的基因流(Nm)为2.424.9个居群的平均遗传距离为0.244,14T居群和MGT居群遗传距离最近,遗传一致度最大.利用UPGMA法对9个居群进行聚类分析,灰叶胡杨9个自然居群分为4大类:48团(48T)、14团(14T)、麦盖提县(MGT)、墨玉县(MY)、沙雅县(SY)聚为一大类,阿瓦提县(AWT)和阿拉尔和田河古道(ALE)居群聚为一大类,最后泽普县(ZP)、巴楚县的夏马勒林场(XML)各自单独为一类.经Mantel检验,9个灰叶胡杨居群的遗传距离和地理距离相关性不显著.总之,泽普居群遗传多样性最丰富,因此在指定原位种质保护计划时应优先考虑泽普居群.     

Genetic structure of a Sakha population from Siberia and ethnic affinities

The red cell enzymes ACP1, ESD, GLO1, PGM1 and RDS and the serum proteins GC, HP, PI, and TF were determined for samples of 150 and 144 Sakha, respectively. The Sakha, a Turkic-speaking population, inhabit the Sakha-Yakutia Republic in northeastern Siberia. High gene frequencies were found for ACP1*A, GLO1*1 and GC*1F, whereas no P1*S or P1*Z alleles were found. In addition, 1 heterozygous phenotype with ACP1*C and 2 heterozygous phenotypes with ESD*7 were found. The genetic distance measures show close affinities of the Sakha population to Buryats (especially Western Buryats), Mongols, and Evenks, whereas the genetic distance to Turkic-speaking Altay and Tuvan populations is great.     

Genetic structure of endangered Emmenopterys henryi Oliv. based on ISSR polymorphism and implications for its conservation

Inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers were used to determine the genetic variation and genetic differentiation of nine populations of Emmenopterys henryi Oliv., an endangered plant endemic to China. Relatively low genetic diversity was detected at population level (the percentage of polymorphic loci P=22.56%, the number of alleles per locus A=1.183+/-0.045, the effective number of alleles per locus A(E)=1.007+/-0.345, Nei's gene diversity h=0.071+/-0.017, Shannon information index I=0.104+/-0.025). However, the genetic diversity at species level was relatively high (P=56.05%; A=1.561+/-0.498, A(E)=1.325+/-0.371, h=0.191+/-0.199, I=0.287+/-0.284). Analysis of molecular variance showed that most of the ISSR variation (68.03%) in E. henryi occurred among populations. The estimated Nm from F (ST )was 0.235. It indicated that the fragmentation and isolation of populations might result from specific evolutionary history and anthropogenic activity. Consequently, genetic drift might play an important role in determining the genetic structure of E. henryi. Conservation strategies for this endangered species are proposed based on the genetic data.     

Genetic analysis and ethnic affinities from two Scytho-Siberian skeletons

We extracted DNA from two skeletons belonging to the Sytho‐Siberian population, which were excavated from the Sebÿstei site (dating back 2,500 years) in the Altai Republic (Central Asia). Ancient DNA was analyzed by autosomal short tandem repeats (STRs) and by the sequencing of the hypervariable region 1 (HV1) of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region. The results showed that these two skeletons were not close relatives. Moreover, their haplogroups were characteristic of Asian populations. Comparison with the haplogroup of 3,523 Asian and American individuals linked one skeleton with a putative ancestral paleo‐Asiatic population and the other with Chinese populations. It appears that the genetic study of ancient populations of Central Asia brings important elements to the understanding of human population movements in Asia. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Genetic structure of Tunisian ethnic groups revealed by paternal lineages

Tunisia has experienced a variety of human migrations that have modeled the myriad cultural groups inhabiting the area. Both Arabic and Berber-speaking populations live in Tunisia. Berbers are commonly considered as in situ descendants of peoples who settled roughly in Palaeolithic times, and posterior demographic events such as the arrival of the Neolithic, the Arab migrations, and the expulsion of the "Moors" from Spain, had a strong cultural influence. Nonetheless, the genetic structure and the population relationships of the ethnic groups living in Tunisia have been poorly assessed. In order to gain insight into the paternal genetic landscape and population structure, more than 40 Y-chromosome single nucleotide polymorphisms and 17 short tandem repeats were analyzed in five Tunisian ethnic groups (three Berber-speaking isolates, one Andalusian, and one Cosmopolitan Arab). The most common lineage was the North African haplogroup E-M81 (71%), being fixed in two Berber samples (Chenini-Douiret and Jradou), suggesting isolation and genetic drift. Differential levels of paternal gene flow from the Near East were detected in the Tunisian samples (J-M267 lineage over 30%); however, no major sub-Saharan African or European influence was found. This result contrasts with the high amount of sub-Saharan and Eurasian maternal lineages previously described in Tunisia. Overall, our results reveal a certain genetic inter-population diversity, especially among Berber groups, and sexual asymmetry, paternal lineages being mostly of autochthonous origin. In addition, Andalusians, who are supposed to be migrants from southern Spain, do not exhibit any substantial contribution of European lineages, suggesting a North African origin for this ethnic group.     

广西4个少数民族17个Y-STR基因座的多态性分析

应用Yfiler复合扩增试剂盒及基因分型技术, 调查了广西瑶、彝、京、壮4个少数民族人群17个Y-STR基因座的多态性分布, 计算等位基因频率和单体型多样性, 并结合国内其他4个群体相应基因座的遗传学资料, 分析其遗传距离和聚类关系。瑶族100名无关男性个体中检出61种单体型, 单体型多样性为0.9784; 彝族105名无关男性个体中检出67种单体型, 单体型多样性为0.9866; 京族103名无关男性个体中检出79种单体型, 单体型多样性为0.9911; 壮族107名无关男性个体中检出91种单体型, 单体型多样性为0.9956。在4个少数民族中, 京族和壮族的遗传距离最小(0.0391), 彝族和瑶族的遗传距离最大(0.3376)。结果表明, 该17个Y-STR基因座在广西4个少数民族人群中均具有较高的多态性, 在法医学、群体遗传学等方面有重要的应用价值。     

新疆草兔的种群遗传结构和亚种分化

新疆草兔 (Lepus capensis) 的群体遗传结构至今无系统的研究报道,亚种水平的分类也长期存在争议.该文测定了形态分类上的新疆草兔3个亚种共87个个体的线粒体DNA (mtDNA)控制区(control region,D-Loop)592 bp的序列,经分析发现148个多态性位点,共定义了44个单倍型.新疆草兔的单倍型多样度(h,0.977 ± 0.005)和核苷酸多样度(π,0.064 ± 0.031)都较高,显示了较高的遗传多样性.分子变异分析(AMOVA)结果显示,4个地理群体间的显著分化可能是由地理隔离造成的.群体遗传结构分析显示,新疆草兔包含4个进化枝,并且每个进化枝都对应特定的分布区域,显示了明显的系统地理结构.该研究的结果支持形态分类上草兔西域亚种(L.c.lehmanni)的分类地位; 但中亚亚种(L.c.centrasiaticus)被分为两个独立的进化枝,提示可能存在两个亚种; 帕米尔亚种(L.c.pamirensis)与其他亚种间的遗传距离在13%以上,提示其可能已达到种的分化水平.     

Genetic diversity and structure in a natural Hordeum chilense population based on gliadin analysis

Hordeum chilense Roem. et Schult. is a South American wild barley that occurs exclusively in Chile and Argentina, where it is a component of natural pastures. This species has been crossed with durum and bread wheats to obtain a new amphiploid, named tritordeum, which presents agronomic traits of a new crop. The knowledge of the reproductive system is very important for the management of any species with breeding purposes. In this work with this finality, two hundred seventy seeds of 32 original spikes from a natural population were analysed for the variation of gliadin by A-PAGE. The data suggested that 98% of the genetic diversity appeared between spikes whereas only the 2.0% was within spikes. Only four out of 32 analysed spikes showed certain level of heterozygosity for the ω-gliadins. The Wright's fixation index for this population was established in F = 0.993 and the cross-fertilisation rate was equal to 0.4%, which suggested that H. chilense is an autogamous species.     

Genetic diversity analysis of Jatropha curcas L. (Euphorbiaceae) based on methylation-sensitive amplification polymorphism

Genetic analysis of 56 samples of Jatropha curcas L. collected from Thailand and other countries was performed using the methylation-sensitive amplification polymorphism (MSAP) technique. Nine primer combinations were used to generate MSAP fingerprints. When the data were interpreted as amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers, 471 markers were scored. All 56 samples were classified into three major groups: γ-irradiated, non-toxic and toxic accessions. Genetic similarity among the samples was extremely high, ranging from 0.95 to 1.00, which indicated very low genetic diversity in this species. The MSAP fingerprint was further analyzed for DNA methylation polymorphisms. The results revealed differences in the DNA methylation level among the samples. However, the samples collected from saline areas and some species hybrids showed specific DNA methylation patterns. AFLP data were used, together with methylation-sensitive AFLP (MS-AFLP) data, to construct a phylogenetic tree, resulting in higher efficiency to distinguish the samples. This combined analysis separated samples previously grouped in the AFLP analysis. This analysis also distinguished some hybrids. Principal component analysis was also performed; the results confirmed the separation in the phylogenetic tree. Some polymorphic bands, involving both nucleotide and DNA methylation polymorphism, that differed between toxic and non-toxic samples were identified, cloned and sequenced. BLAST analysis of these fragments revealed differences in DNA methylation in some known genes and nucleotide polymorphism in chloroplast DNA. We conclude that MSAP is a powerful technique for the study of genetic diversity for organisms that have a narrow genetic base.