No abstract

Objectives: The aim of this work is to explore the maternal genetic diversity of hunter-gatherers of the southern Tierra del Fuego, specifically the north coast of Beagle Channel, the Península Mitre, and Isla de los Estados through ancient mitochondrial DNA analysis. Materials and Methods: The hypervariable regions 1 and 2 of the mitochondrial genome of five individuals from the north coast of Beagle Channel, six individuals from Península Mitre, and one individual from Isla de los Estados were analyzed. Through diversity statistics, Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA), and Median Joining networks analyses, maternal relationships in the region were evaluated and phylogenetic similarities between ancient and contemporary populations of Tierra del Fuego were determined. Results: The mitochondrial DNA lineages from the ancient individuals analyzed reveals the presence of subclades C1b and D1g. Pattern of decreasing genetic diversity toward the South is observed. The AMOVAs performed found no statistically significant differences between individuals of the north coast of Beagle Channel and Península Mitre-Isla de los Estados, and modern Yámana populations. Median joining network of haplotypes of clades C1 and D1g, show the same results. Discussion: Ethnohistoric and ethnographic records of Península Mitre show that this region was occupied during the 19th century by Haush or Manekenk populations, although their biological, cultural, and subsistence characterization is unclear. We explore their maternal lineages and encounter low levels of genetic diversity and the absence of population differentiation with modern Yámana groups. We suggest that Península Mitre-Isla de los Estado was part of the same hunting and gathering populations as those of the Beagle Channel.

Para indagar sobre el impacto genético que habría generado la conquista hispánica en los grupos nativos asentados en el Paraná Medio e Inferior se analizaron muestras de individuos pre y posthispánicos de la región. Se identificaron los haplogrupos de ADN mitocondrial empelando Polimorfismos de Longitud de Fragmentos de Restricción (RFLP). Los datos obtenidos se compararon con los de otros sitios arqueológicos pre y posthispánicos y con muestras contemporáneas. Se observó mayor prevalencia del haplogrupo nativo B en las muestras posthispánicas, aunque sin diferenciación significativa con el grupo prehispánico de la región del Paraná Medio e Inferior. Ambos grupos presentan frecuencias de haplogrupos similares a muestras modernas provenientes del Gran Chaco y la provincia de Córdoba. Esto se corresponde con datos arqueológicos y de fuentes documentales de la reducción de Santiago del Baradero (provincia de Buenos Aires), con la prohibición de la salida de mujeres de la reducción y la escasez de individuos foráneos.