Genetic affinities between endogamous and inbreeding populations of Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

BackgroundIndia has experienced several waves of migration since the Middle Paleolithic. It is believed that the initial demic movement into India was from Africa along the southern coastal route, approximately 60,000–85,000 years before present (ybp). It has also been reported that there were two other major colonization which included eastward diffusion of Neolithic farmers (Elamo Dravidians) from Middle East sometime between 10,000 and 7,000 ybp and a southern dispersal of Indo Europeans from Central Asia 3,000 ybp. Mongol entry during the thirteenth century A.D. as well as some possible minor incursions from South China 50,000 to 60,000 ybp may have also contributed to cultural, linguistic and genetic diversity in India. Therefore, the genetic affinity and relationship of Indians with other world populations and also within India are often contested. In the present study, we have attempted to offer a fresh and immaculate interpretation on the genetic relationships of different North Indian populations with other Indian and world populations.ResultsWe have first genotyped 20 tetra-nucleotide STR markers among 1800 north Indian samples of nine endogamous populations belonging to three different socio-cultural strata. Genetic distances (Nei's DA and Reynold's Fst) were calculated among the nine studied populations, Caucasians and East Asians. This analysis was based upon the allelic profile of 20 STR markers to assess the genetic similarity and differences of the north Indian populations. North Indians showed a stronger genetic relationship with the Europeans (DA 0.0341 and Fst 0.0119) as compared to the Asians (DA 0.1694 and Fst – 0.0718). The upper caste Brahmins and Muslims were closest to Caucasians while middle caste populations were closer to Asians. Finally, three phylogenetic assessments based on two different NJ and ML phylogenetic methods and PC plot analysis were carried out using the same panel of 20 STR markers and 20 geo-ethnic populations. The three phylogenetic assessments revealed that north Indians are clustering with Caucasians.ConclusionThe genetic affinities of Indians and that of different caste groups towards Caucasians or East Asians is distributed in a cline where geographically north Indians and both upper caste and Muslim populations are genetically closer to the Caucasians.

Magnetic Resonance Angiography Findings in Patients with Ischemic Stroke from North India

“…In a large population-based study on 1800 subjects from North India, the genetic studies revealed that upper caste Hindus and Muslims are closer to Whites whereas middle caste are closer to Asians. 41 Solberg and McGarry 42 have reported that atherosclerotic lesion appears in IC arteries about one decade later in life than they do in EC carotid artery; however, in our study this phenomenon has not been observed. The time of flight MRA in the current study was done on a 1.5-T scanner, which has a lower sensitivity and specificity in detecting IC small vessel abnormality compared with digital subtraction angiography.…”

Diverse genetic origin of Indian Muslims: evidence from autosomal STR loci

“…6 As any other Muslims in the world, Indian Muslims also follow two sects, Shia and Sunni, practicing strict endogamy. [12][13] Consistent with the above historical and anthropological facts, classical markers data [11][12]14 coupled with molecular marker studies [15][16][17][18] suggested the subsistence of high level of regional genetic affinity in some of the north and south Indian Muslim populations. In contrast, a couple of classical marker studies have shown that some of the northern and north western Muslim populations genetically vary from the aboriginal Indian Hindu populations.…”

“…Coupling of Indian Shia and Indian Sunni close to Kanyakubj Brahmins was in congruent with previous reports based on mtDNA 17 and the separate set of microsatellite data analyses. 16 The array of populations in the worldwide NJ tree ( Figure 3) and three-dimensional PCA plot (Figure 2b) exemplified Dawoodi Bohras (TN and GUJ) in an intermediary genetic position, especially relative to the Middle Eastern and European population clusters. As expected, Table S5).…”

“…In contrast, a couple of classical marker studies have shown that some of the northern and north western Muslim populations genetically vary from the aboriginal Indian Hindu populations. 14,19 Even though, a few biparental marker studies 16,18 have been reported, a study covering different geographical regions with large sample size based on a subset of 13 CODIS core autosomal STR loci is altogether missing for Indian Muslim populations. In this context, no comprehensive study is available to explore the genetic relationships of Indian Muslims with Indian non-Muslims and the world populations with regard to the historically attested movements.…”

Three Genetic Polymorphisms of Homocysteine-Metabolizing Enzymes and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease: Appraisal of a Recent Meta-Analysis

“…It has been shown (Saha et al, 2005) that Indian populations exhibit a high degree of genetic admixture and a greater genetic proximity with other world populations. Studies have indicated that the south Indian population is genetically closer to Asian populations (Bamshad et al, 2001), whereas the north Indian population is closer to Caucasian populations (Khan et al, 2007). When a study contains a mixed population, it should be divided into the different ethnicities if data are available.…”