Fine-Scale Genetic Structure in the United Arab Emirates Reflects Endogamous and Consanguineous Culture, Population History, and Geography

Abstract

The indigenous population of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has a unique demographic and cultural history. Its tradition of endogamy and consanguinity is expected to produce genetic homogeneity and partitioning of gene pools while population movements and intercontinental trade are likely to have contributed to genetic diversity. Emiratis and neighboring populations of the Middle East have been underrepresented in the population genetics literature with few studies covering the broader genetic history of the Arabian Peninsula. Here, we genotyped 1,198 individuals from the seven Emirates using 1.7 million markers and by employing haplotype-based algorithms and admixture analyses, we reveal the fine-scale genetic structure of the Emirati population. Shared ancestry and gene flow with neighboring populations display their unique geographic position while increased intra- versus inter-Emirati kinship and sharing of uniparental haplogroups, reflect the endogamous and consanguineous cultural traditions of the Emirates and their tribes.

Adaptive admixture atACKR1(the Duffy locus) may have shapedPlasmodium vivaxprevalence in Oman

“…The more recent pulse is within the peak period of the Omani empire 81 and the end of the Indian Ocean slave trade 82 , while the older, larger pulse of admixture is closer to the earliest historical documentation of maritime trade between the regions in the first century AD 56 , predating previous estimates of African admixture into AP populations by 600 years. Previous estimates have ranged from 9-37 generations ago 11,16,53,68,83 , although the older dates in this range were also reported for southern AP populations. Many of the more recent date estimates come from MALDER/ALDER, which we also found to estimate a more recent admixture timing (9 generations), but likely due to the difficulty of LD-based methods to differentiate between multiple pulses from the same source population 40,84 .…”

“…Many of the more recent date estimates come from MALDER/ALDER, which we also found to estimate a more recent admixture timing (9 generations), but likely due to the difficulty of LD-based methods to differentiate between multiple pulses from the same source population 40,84 . The only populations in which a two-pulse model of African admixture has been inferred are the Emiratis, Saudis, and Omanis, and only when using a tract length-based approach 11,83 . The older admixture date overlaps with some estimates for the Bantu Expansion into East Africa 85,86 , which could indicate that the present-day Luhya are not representative of the east African population at the time of the inferred pulse 1,800 years ago.…”

A draft Arab pangenome reference

“…We conducted an extensive literature review to compile Y-haplogroup frequency data across ethnicities. [59][60][61] Both mitochondrial and Y chromosome haplogroup distributions were visualized using hierarchical clustered heatmaps generated with the Python Seaborn library to illustrate the comparative haplotype frequencies among different populations.…”

Ancient genomes illuminate Eastern Arabian population history and adaptation against malaria

“… 19 , 20 Second, Arabian and Levantine populations present different size trajectories, with the former being affected by a pronounced bottleneck event occurring around 6,000 years ago (6 kya) that coincides with the “Dark Millennium,” a period of increasing aridification in Arabia, 21 and the latter showing a more recent size reduction associated with the ∼4.2 kya climate event 20 of wider distribution across Anatolia, the Levant, and Mesopotamia. 22 Third, Arabians show increased levels of consanguinity in comparison to the Levant, 23 , 24 potentially leading to higher prevalence of genetic disorders including G6PD deficiency. 25 …”