Blood group O alleles in Native Americans: Implications in the peopling of the Americas

Abstract

All major ABO blood alleles are found in most populations worldwide, whereas the majority of Native Americans are nearly exclusively in the O group. O allele molecular characterization could aid in elucidating the possible causes of group O predominance in Native American populations. In this work, we studied exon 6 and 7 sequence diversity in 180 O blood group individuals from four different Mesoamerican populations. Additionally, a comparative analysis of genetic diversity and population structure including South American populations was performed. Results revealed no significant differences among Mesoamerican and South American groups, but showed significant differences within population groups attributable to previously detected differences in genetic drift and founder effects throughout the American continent. Interestingly, in all American populations, the same set of haplotypes O(1), O(1v), and O(1v(G542A)) was present, suggesting the following: (1) that they constitute the main genetic pool of the founding population of the Americas and (2) that they derive from the same ancestral source, partially supporting the single founding population hypothesis. In addition, the consistent and restricted presence of the G542A mutation in Native Americans compared to worldwide populations allows it to be employed as an Ancestry informative marker (AIM). Present knowledge of the peopling of the Americas allows the prediction of the way in which the G542A mutation could have emerged in Beringia, probably during the differentiation process of Asian lineages that gave rise to the founding population of the continent.

The Human Microbiota as a Marker for Migrations of Individuals and Populations

“…In an example of competition for ligands, Amerindian strains show higher binding affinity for antigens that comprise the O blood group, whereas other strains bind similarly to all blood-group antigens (Aspholm-Hurtig et al 2004). This specialization is consistent with the near universality of blood group O in Amerindians (Estrada-Mena et al 2009). As shown below, H. pylori is an excellent example of a microbe with a population structure that provides strong evidence of ancient ancestry in Africa and subsequent human migrations.…”

An Increased Incidence of Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection among Hispanics in Southern Nevada

“…Considerable research exists in the field of Amerindian genetics. 38,39 In the United States, 66% of all Hispanics are of Mexican origin. 40 In Nevada, 79% of Hispanics have Mexican ancestry.…”

Access to living donor transplantation for Aboriginal recipients: a study of living donor presentation and exclusion

“…Immunologic exclusions (i.e., ABO or human leukocyte antigen [HLA] incompatibility) were less common in the Aboriginal cohort, among whom blood group O is more common than in the general Caucasian population (15). This suggests that efforts to overcome immunologic barriers among living donors with living donor exchange programs or desensitization may have a smaller benefit for Aboriginals (16).…”