Genetic Differentiation of the Population of Central Asia Inferred from Autosomal Markers

The gene pool of five ethnic groups of the Central Asian population was characterized using nine human-specific polymorphic insertion/deletion loci (ACE, PLAT, APOA1, PV92, F13B, A25, B65, CD4, Mt-Nuc). It has been shown for the first time that at the CD4 locus, the frequency of Alu(–) is inversely related to the Mongoloid component of the population. For the Central Asian populations, the lowest and highest frequencies of the Alu deletion at locus CD4 were recorded respectively in Dungans (0.04), immigrants from China, and Tajiks (0.15). The coefficient of gene differentiation in the Central Asian populations for all the genes was 2.8%, which indicates a relatively low level of population genetic subdivision in this region. The unity of the gene pool of the Central Asian Caucasoids was shown.     

An Ancient Mediterranean Melting Pot: Investigating the Uniparental Genetic Structure and Population History of Sicily and Southern Italy

Due to their strategic geographic location between three different continents, Sicily and Southern Italy have long represented a major Mediterranean crossroad where different peoples and cultures came together over time. However, its multi-layered history of migration pathways and cultural exchanges, has made the reconstruction of its genetic history and population structure extremely controversial and widely debated. To address this debate, we surveyed the genetic variability of 326 accurately selected individuals from 8 different provinces of Sicily and Southern Italy, through a comprehensive evaluation of both Y-chromosome and mtDNA genomes. The main goal was to investigate the structuring of maternal and paternal genetic pools within Sicily and Southern Italy, and to examine their degrees of interaction with other Mediterranean populations. Our findings show high levels of within-population variability, coupled with the lack of significant genetic sub-structures both within Sicily, as well as between Sicily and Southern Italy. When Sicilian and Southern Italian populations were contextualized within the Euro-Mediterranean genetic space, we observed different historical dynamics for maternal and paternal inheritances. Y-chromosome results highlight a significant genetic differentiation between the North-Western and South-Eastern part of the Mediterranean, the Italian Peninsula occupying an intermediate position therein. In particular, Sicily and Southern Italy reveal a shared paternal genetic background with the Balkan Peninsula and the time estimates of main Y-chromosome lineages signal paternal genetic traces of Neolithic and post-Neolithic migration events. On the contrary, despite showing some correspondence with its paternal counterpart, mtDNA reveals a substantially homogeneous genetic landscape, which may reflect older population events or different demographic dynamics between males and females. Overall, both uniparental genetic structures and TMRCA estimates confirm the role of Sicily and Southern Italy as an ancient Mediterranean melting pot for genes and cultures.     

Dominance Is the Major Genetic Basis of Heterosis in Rice as Revealed by Qtl Analysis Using Molecular Markers

A set of 194 F(7) lines derived from a subspecific rice cross showing strong F(1) heterosis was backcrossed to the two parents. The materials (388 BC(1)F(7) lines, 194 F(8) lines, two parents, F(1)) were phenotyped for 12 quantitative traits. A total of 37 significant QTLs (LOD >/= 2.0) was detected through 141 RFLP markers in the BC(1)F(7) populations. Twenty-seven (73%) quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were detected in only one of the BC(1)F(7) populations. In 82% of these cases, the heterozygotes were superior to the respective homozygotes. The remaining 10 (27%) QTLs were detected in both BC(1)F(7) populations, and the heterozygote had a phenotype falling between those of the two homozygotes and in no instances were the heterozygotes found to be superior to both homozygotes. These results suggest that dominance complementation is the major genetic basis of heterosis in rice. This conclusion was strengthened by the finding that there was no correlation between most traits and overall genome heterozygosity and that there were some recombinant inbred lines in the F(8) population having phenotypic values superior to the F(1) for all of the traits evaluated--a result not expected if overdominance was a major contributor to heterosis. Digenic epistasis was not evident.     

Genetic Analyses of Casuarinas Using ISSR and FISSR Markers

Inter simple sequence repeat polymerase chain reaction (ISSR-PCR) was used for the genetic analysis of the six species of Allocasuarina, five species of Casuarina and 12 superior performing selections of C. equisetifolia L. We also fingerprinted C. equisetifolia L. selections using Fluorescent-ISSR-PCR (FISSR-PCR), an improvised ISSR-PCR assay. The ISSR analysis provided information on the frequency of various simple sequence repeats in the casuarina genome. The di-nucleotide repeats were more common, among which (CA)n and its complementary nucleotide (GT),, repeat motifs amplified relatively higher number of bands with an average of 6.0+/-3.5 and 6.3+/-1.8 respectively. Eleven species of casuarinas were amplified with 10 primers anchored either at 5' or 3' end. A total of 253 PCR products were obtained and all were polymorphic, out of which 48 were specific to Allocasuarina and 36 were specific to Casuarina genus. Genetic similarity among the species was 0.251. A UPGMA dendrogram grouped all the Casuarina species together. The 12 superior performing selections of C. equisetifolia L. produced 57 polymorphic ISSR markers while the FISSR assay revealed 105 polymorphic markers. The primer CRR(ATT)4 distinguished all the selections. DNA profiles obtained with ISSR and FISSR assays would serve as a reference library for the establishment of clonal identity in casuarinas.     

Exploring the Distribution of Genetic Markers of Pharmacogenomics Relevance in Brazilian and Mexican Populations

Studies of pharmacogenomics-related traits are increasingly being performed to identify loci that affect either drug response or susceptibility to adverse drug reactions. However, the effect of the polymorphisms can differ in magnitude or be absent depending on the population being assessed. We used the Affymetrix Drug Metabolizing Enzymes and Transporters (DMET) Plus array to characterize the distribution of polymorphisms of pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics (PGx) relevance in two samples from the most populous Latin American countries, Brazil and Mexico. The sample from Brazil included 268 individuals from the southeastern state of Rio de Janeiro, and was stratified into census categories. The sample from Mexico comprised 45 Native American Zapotecas and 224 self-identified Mestizo individuals from 5 states located in geographically distant regions in Mexico. We evaluated the admixture proportions in the Brazilian and Mexican samples using a panel of Ancestry Informative Markers extracted from the DMET array, which was validated with genome-wide data. A substantial variation in ancestral proportions across census categories in Brazil, and geographic regions in Mexico was identified. We evaluated the extent of genetic differentiation (measured as F_ST values) of the genetic markers of the DMET Plus array between the relevant parental populations. Although the average levels of genetic differentiation are low, there is a long tail of markers showing large frequency differences, including markers located in genes belonging to the Cytochrome P450, Solute Carrier (SLC) and UDP-glucuronyltransferase (UGT) families as well as other genes of PGx relevance such as ABCC8, ADH1A, CHST3, PON1, PPARD, PPARG, and VKORC1. We show how differences in admixture history may have an important impact in the distribution of allele and genotype frequencies at the population level.     

Miscanthus: Genetic Diversity and Genotype Identification Using ISSR and RAPD Markers

Due to the limited number of molecular studies focused on European gene pool investigation, it is necessary to perform plant material recognition. Eighteen accessions of three Miscanthus species, namely, M. × giganteus, M. sinensis, M. sacchariflorus were evaluated with the use of molecular marker systems such as: inter simple sequence repeats (ISSRs), random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), and by estimation of ploidy level based on flow cytometry. As a result, only one ISSR primer (ISSR1) and three RAPD primers (RAPD1, RAPD2, RAPD4) were required to identify all genotypes. Moreover, the use of the above mentioned molecular markers enable the proper species recognition of the interspecific hybrid M. × giganteus “Floridulus,” which has been previously mislabeled as M. floridulus. The highest genetic similarity coefficient (0.94) was observed between M. × giganteus clones, which indicates that the genetic diversity within this species was very low. Whereas M. sinensis genotypes represented a relatively wide diversity with similarity coefficient of 0.58. Cluster analysis using UPGMA grouped the 18 accessions in three clusters according to species affiliation including relabeled M. × giganteus “Floridulus,” which proved to be closely related to M.  × giganteus. Similar groupings were evident in the PCoA analysis.     

Genetic Origins and Sex-Biased Admixture of the Huis

The Hui people are unique among Chinese ethnic minorities in that they speak the same language as Han Chinese (HAN) but practice Islam. However, as the second-largest minority group in China numbering well over 10 million, the Huis are under-represented in both global and regional genomic studies. Here, we present the first whole-genome sequencing effort of 234 Hui individuals (NXH) aged over 60 who have been living in Ningxia, where the Huis are mostly concentrated. NXH are genetically more similar to East Asian than to any other global populations. In particular, the genetic differentiation between NXH and HAN (F_ST = 0.0015) is only slightly larger than that between northern and southern HAN (F_ST = 0.0010), largely attributed to the western ancestry in NXH (∼10%). Highly differentiated functional variants between NXH and HAN were identified in genes associated with skin pigmentation (e.g., SLC24A5), facial morphology (e.g., EDAR), and lipid metabolism (e.g., ABCG8). The Huis are also distinct from other Muslim groups such as the Uyghurs (F_ST = 0.0187), especially, NXH derived much less western ancestry (∼10%) compared with the Uyghurs (∼50%). Modeling admixture history indicated that NXH experienced an episode of two-wave admixture. An ancient admixture occurred ∼1,025 years ago, reflecting the intensive west–east contacts during the late Tang Dynasty, and the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. A recent admixture occurred ∼500 years ago, corresponding to the Ming Dynasty. Notably, we identified considerable sex-biased admixture, that is, excess of western males and eastern females contributing to the NXH gene pool. The origins and the genomic diversity of the Hui people imply the complex history of contacts between western and eastern Eurasians.     

The Admixture Linkage Disequilibrium and Genetic Linkage Inference on the Gradual Admixture Population

Through the theoretical analysis of the admixture linkage disequilibrium (ALD) in the gradual admixture (GA) model, in which admixture occurs in every generation, the ALD is found to be proportional to the difference in marker allele frequencies, p₁-p₂, between two subpopulations. Based on this property, we can employ a strict monotonic function (Δ_ker=Δ/(p₁-p₂), where Δ denotes the linkage disequilibrium (LD)) of the recombination fraction between the marker locus and the disease locus to infer the true genetic linkage. We construct a quasi likelihood ratio test (LRT) for the case-only data utilizing the information of unlinked markers in the human genome. The simulation results show that our tests can be used to fine map a disease locus. The effects of parameter values in the ALD mapping are also discussed.     

渐近混合群体的混合连锁不平衡及其遗传连锁推断

在渐近混合模型中,混合现象发生在每一世代,通过对其混合连锁不平衡的理论分析,发现混合连锁不平衡与两个子群体间的基因频率差成正比。基于这一点,构造了一个对重组率严格单调的函数（△ker=△／（p1-p2）,其中△代表连锁不平衡）,进而据此推断标记基因座与疾病基因座的遗传连锁。应用人类基因组上不连锁的标记基因提供的连锁不平衡信息,基于病人组数据构造了一个准似然比统计量。模拟结果显示,此检验可用于精确的基因定位。文章亦讨论了参数对检验的影响。     

Analysis of Genetic Diversity of North Eurasian Populations Using Autosomal Microsatellite Loci

The paper presents the results of analysis of the gene pools of several North Eurasian ethnic groups (Buryats, Evenks, Altaians, Russians, Kyrgyzes, Tuvinians, Tatars, and Ukrainians) examined using a panel of autosomal microsatellite markers (D4S397,D5S393, D7S640, D8S514, D9S161, D10S197, D11S1358, D12S364 and D13S173) mapped on different chromosomes and represented by the (CA) _n dinucleotide repeats. In the group of populations examined the proportion of genetic variability at microsatellite loci explained by interpopulation differences was about 2.5%, while genetic differences between the individuals within a population accounted for 97.5% of this variability. Analysis of genetic relationships among the populations revealed substantial differences between the populations belonging to the Indo-European and Altaic linguistic families in gene diversity at microsatellite loci.     

居群遗传结构研究中显性标记数据方法初探

为对比显性标记应用于居群遗传结构研究时不同统计参数的适用性,利用RAPD技术对中国5个居群的100个疣粒野生稻个体进行了遗传结构分析。在衡量居群遗传多样性水平时,多态位点比率（PPB）会低估遗传变异的量,其价值不如Shannon多样性指数和Nei基因多样性指数,而采用Nei指数时不必进行Lynch-Milligan矫正。对个体间遗传关系进行分析时,17种遗传相似性指数矩阵两两之间的Mantel检测都表现出极显著的相关性（r＞0.95,t＞t     

利用SSR分子标记进行海岛棉遗传多样性研究

利用SSR分子标记,对20世纪50年代我国引入海岛棉以来培育的45个国内品种(系)及8个国外品种的遗传多样性进行研究.通过256对SSR引物的筛选,选择24对扩增效果好的引物对53个海岛棉种质资源进行遗传多样性的检测分析,共检测出106个等位位点,每对引物等位位点数在2～8之间,平均为4.4.其中多态性等位基因变异97个,占91.5%.位点多态性信息含量平均为0.688,最高为0.848,最低为0.245.利用NTSYSpc2.1软件,分别计算农艺经济性状的欧氏距离(Euclid)和分子标记数据的Jaccard系数矩阵,采用UPGMA法对所选材料进行聚类分析.结果表明,两个树状聚类图基本吻合,53个品种被分为两大类,与系谱来源一致.实验证明SSR分子标记在鉴别品种和品种遗传多样性研究方面具有重要作用.     

转基因抗虫棉SSR和AFLP遗传变异研究

利用SSR和AFLP两种分子标记技术,分析了52份转基因抗虫棉品种（系）的遗传多样性。结果表明：在61对SSR引物中,有4对引物在供试材料中表现出多态性,共扩增出102个标记,其中多态性标记25个,多态性百分率为24．51％,每对引物的扩增带数变化在17～30之间;在100对AFLP引物中,有9对引物在供试材料中产生多态性,共扩增出618个标记,多态性标记33个,占总数的5．34％,每对引物组合扩增的标记数分布于47～81之间。成对品种的欧式距离变化在2．00～5．57之间,平均值为4．21,单一品种欧氏距离的平均值分布在3．73～4．75之间,表明不同品种之间遗传差异不大。基于SSRs和AFLPs多态性数据的聚类分析,可以将供试材料划分为3个类群（SAGs）,但类群划分与品种地理来源不十分吻合。     

Genetic Diversity of Twelve Switchgrass Populations Using Molecular and Morphological Markers

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is a warm season, C₄ perennial grass native to most of North America with numerous applications, including use as a bioenergy feedstock species. To date, no studies on genetic diversity in switchgrass have been conducted that use both molecular and morphological markers. The objectives of this study were to assess genetic diversity and determine differences among and between 12 switchgrass populations grown in New Jersey by examining both morphological and molecular characteristics, and to determine whether morphological, molecular, and/or combined data sets can detect ecotype and/or geographical differences at the population level. Twelve plants from each population were characterized with 16 switchgrass expressed sequence tag-simple sequence repeat markers (EST-SSRs) and seven morphological characters. Data was analyzed using GenAlEx and Unweighted Pair-Group Method of Averages (UPGMA) cluster analysis. Most (64%) of the molecular variation in switchgrass populations exists among individuals within populations, with lesser amounts between populations (36%). Upland and lowland populations were distinguished in all three data sets. Some eastern US and midwestern US populations were distinct in all three data sets. Similarities were observed between all three data sets indicating molecular markers may be useful for identifying morphological differences or other adaptive traits. The combined data set was the most useful in differentiating populations based on geography and found separation between midwestern and eastern upland populations. The results indicate that the combination of morphological and molecular markers may be useful in future applications such as genetic diversity studies, plant variety protection, cultivar identification, and/or identifying geographic origin.     

RAPD和ISSR分子标记对果蔗种质资源的遗传多样性研究

利用RAPD与ISSR分子标记技术对40份不同地方果蔗种质的遗传多样性进行分析。从供试材料中筛选到具有多态性的RAPD引物23条,ISSR引物28条。23条RAPD引物共扩增出250条带,多态性条带比率为70%,相似系数变化范围在0.68-1.00之间;28条ISSR引物共扩增出301条带,多态性条带比率为77.1%,相似系数变化范围在0.66-1.00之间。根据两种标记的结果,用UPGMA法对40份果蔗种质材料进行聚类分析,结果表明,RAPD和ISSR均将40份果蔗种质分为4类:第Ⅰ类为32份地方果蔗品种,包括福建、江西、浙江、广西、云南等地的品种;第Ⅱ类为外引黑皮果蔗Badila和丰城紫皮果蔗;第Ⅲ类为杂交种白鳝、歪干担、肚度、温岭果蔗以及人工杂交选育的果蔗品种474;第Ⅳ类只有广东的黄皮果蔗。这两种标记的聚类结果相关分析表明,它们存在呈极显著相关(r=0.9746)。但ISSR标记比RAPD标记可检测到更大的遗传变异。     

Standing at the Gateway to Europe - The Genetic Structure of Western Balkan Populations Based on Autosomal and Haploid Markers

Contemporary inhabitants of the Balkan Peninsula belong to several ethnic groups of diverse cultural background. In this study, three ethnic groups from Bosnia and Herzegovina - Bosniacs, Bosnian Croats and Bosnian Serbs - as well as the populations of Serbians, Croatians, Macedonians from the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegrins and Kosovars have been characterized for the genetic variation of 660 000 genome-wide autosomal single nucleotide polymorphisms and for haploid markers. New autosomal data of the 70 individuals together with previously published data of 20 individuals from the populations of the Western Balkan region in a context of 695 samples of global range have been analysed. Comparison of the variation data of autosomal and haploid lineages of the studied Western Balkan populations reveals a concordance of the data in both sets and the genetic uniformity of the studied populations, especially of Western South-Slavic speakers. The genetic variation of Western Balkan populations reveals the continuity between the Middle East and Europe via the Balkan region and supports the scenario that one of the major routes of ancient gene flows and admixture went through the Balkan Peninsula.     

利用微卫星标记分析蛋鸡配套系的遗传关系

选用20个微卫星标记分析了2001年和2002年引进的H高产蛋鸡配套系祖代各品系之间的遗传关系,计算杂合度、多态信息含量(PIC)、有效等位基因数、Nei氏遗传距离等统计量,分析了品系内和品系间的遗传变异,并采用非加权类平均法(UPGMA)对各品系进行聚类。结果显示：每个微卫星位点的平均等位基因数为3．250,平均有效等位基因数为2．395,20个微卫星标记共有等位基因65个,各位点的PIC在0．102—0．729之间变动,平均为0．454;各位点杂合度的变动范围是0．108—0．765,各品系杂合度的分布范围是从A2001的0．390到D2001的0．452之间,各品系的杂合度较低,群体内变异较小。配套系各品系是经过高度选育的,所以群体内变异较小,本研究结果与育种实际相符合,也从另一方面说明了品系的遗传特征能够由各微卫星位点的多态性得到真实的反映。A、B两系之间的遗传距离为0．005—0．016,遗传相似系数大于0．984;C、D两系之间的遗传距离为0．094～0．119,遗传相似系数为0．900左右。这些结果表明,A、B应为同一个品系或遗传关系非常近的两个品系,C、D是两个遗传关系较远的品系。