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1 January 2015 Identification of Whole Mitochondrial Genomes from Venezuela and Implications on Regional Phylogenies in South America
Esther J. Lee, D. Andrew Merriwether
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Abstract

Recent studies have expanded and refined the founding haplogroups of the Americas using whole mitochondrial (mtDNA) genome analysis. In addition to pan-American lineages, specific variants have been identified in a number of studies that show higher frequencies in restricted geographical areas. To further characterize Native American maternal lineages and specifically examine local patterns within South America, we analyzed 12 maternally unrelated Yekuana whole mtDNA genomes from one village (Sharamaña) that include the four major Native American haplogroups A2, B2, C1, and D1. Based on our results, we propose a reconfiguration of one subhaplogroup A2 (A2aa) that is specific to South America and identify other singleton branches across the four haplogroups. Furthermore, we show nucleotide diversity values that increase from north to south for haplogroups C1 and D1. The results from our work add to the growing mitogenomic data that highlight local phylogenies and support the rapid genetic differentiation of South American populations, which has been correlated with the linguistic diversity in the region by previous studies.

Copyright © 2015 Wayne State University Press, Detroit, Michigan 48201
Esther J. Lee and D. Andrew Merriwether "Identification of Whole Mitochondrial Genomes from Venezuela and Implications on Regional Phylogenies in South America," Human Biology 87(1), 29-38, (1 January 2015). https://doi.org/10.13110/humanbiology.87.1.0029
Received: 7 January 2015; Accepted: 1 July 2015; Published: 1 January 2015
KEYWORDS
population genetics
South America
WHOLE MITOCHONDRIAL GENOME
YEKUANA
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