Polymorphic Alu Insertions and the Asian Origin of Native American Populations

Document Type

Article

Authors

Gabriel E. Novick, Florida Internaional University, University Park Campus
Corina C. Novick, Florida Internaional University, University Park Campus
Juan Yunis, Universidad Nacional de Colombia
Emilio Yunis, Universidad Nacional de Colombia
Pamela Antunez De Mayolo, Florida Internaional University, University Park Campus
W. Douglas Scheer, Louisiana State University Medical Center
Prescott L. Deininger, Louisiana State University Medical Center
Mark Stoneking, Pennsylvania State University
Daniel S. York, Barry University
Mark A. Batzer, Louisiana State University Medical Center
Rene J. Herrera, Florida Internaional University, University Park Campus

Abstract

A rapid PCR-based assay was used to study the distribution of 5 polymorphic Alu insertions in 895 unrelated individuals from 30 populations, 24 from North, Central, and South America. Although a significant level of interpopulation variability was detected, the variability was less than that observed in a worldwide population survey. This is consistent with the bottleneck effect and genetic drift forces that may have acted on the migrating founder groups. The results corroborate the Asian origin of native American populations but do not support the multiple-wave migration hypothesis supposedly responsible for the tripartite Eskaleut, Nadene, and Amerind linguistic groups. Instead, these populations exhibit three major identifiable clusters reflecting geographic distribution. Close similarity between the Chinese and native Americans suggests recent gene flow from Asia.

Recommended Citation

Novick, Gabriel E.; Novick, Corina C.; Yunis, Juan; Yunis, Emilio; De Mayolo, Pamela Antunez; Scheer, W. Douglas; Deininger, Prescott L.; Stoneking, Mark; York, Daniel S.; Batzer, Mark A.; and Herrera, Rene J. (1998) "Polymorphic Alu Insertions and the Asian Origin of Native American Populations," Human Biology: Vol. 70: Iss. 1, Article 2.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/humbiol/vol70/iss1/2