New World “molecularology”: a refreshing view.

[Jacques Cinq-Mars]

All,

The following was just brought up to my attention by a colleague. It should be of interest to people involved in New World, “deep time” molecular prehistory.

Schroeder, K. B., T. G. Schurr, J. C. Long, N. A. Rosenberg, M. H. Crawford, L. A. Tarskaia, L. P. Osipova, S. I. Zhadanov, and D. G. Smith. A private allele ubiquitous in the Americas. 2007. Biology Letters 3, 218–223.

Abstract:
The three-wave migration hypothesis of Greenberg et al. has permeated the genetic literature on the peopling of the Americas. Greenberg et al. proposed that Na-Dene, Aleut-Eskimo and Amerind are language phyla which represent separate migrations from Asia to the Americas. We show that a unique allele at autosomal microsatellite locus D9S1120 is present in all sampled North and South American populations, including the Na-Dene and Aleut- Eskimo, and in related Western Beringian groups, at an average frequency of 31.7%. This allele was not observed in any sampled putative Asian source populations or in other worldwide populations. Neither selection nor admixture explains the distribution of this regionally specific marker. The simplest explanation for the ubiquity of this allele across the Americas is that the same founding population contributed a large fraction of ancestry to all modern Native American populations.

For access to the full paper, CLICK HERE, and if you’re out of the loop, don’t hesitate to ask around.

To put it very simply, as a prehistorian, I find the conclusions very encouraging.

Jacques

[AWSX]

That does sound interesting. Do you suppose this might have come from those dolichocephalic paleoindians before the 'mongoloid invasion'?

Have to wonder how thorough their search was to conclude "This allele was not observed in any sampled putative Asian source populations or in other worldwide populations."

[Charlie Hatchett]

All,

The following was just brought up to my attention by a colleague. It should be of interest to people involved in New World, “deep time” molecular prehistory.

Schroeder, K. B., T. G. Schurr, J. C. Long, N. A. Rosenberg, M. H. Crawford, L. A. Tarskaia, L. P. Osipova, S. I. Zhadanov, and D. G. Smith. A private allele ubiquitous in the Americas. 2007. Biology Letters 3, 218–223.

Abstract:
The three-wave migration hypothesis of Greenberg et al. has permeated the genetic literature on the peopling of the Americas. Greenberg et al. proposed that Na-Dene, Aleut-Eskimo and Amerind are language phyla which represent separate migrations from Asia to the Americas. We show that a unique allele at autosomal microsatellite locus D9S1120 is present in all sampled North and South American populations, including the Na-Dene and Aleut- Eskimo, and in related Western Beringian groups, at an average frequency of 31.7%. This allele was not observed in any sampled putative Asian source populations or in other worldwide populations. Neither selection nor admixture explains the distribution of this regionally specific marker. The simplest explanation for the ubiquity of this allele across the Americas is that the same founding population contributed a large fraction of ancestry to all modern Native American populations.

For access to the full paper, CLICK HERE, and if you’re out of the loop, don’t hesitate to ask around.

To put it very simply, as a prehistorian, I find the conclusions very encouraging.

Jacques

Interesting, Jacques.

I too find the abstract encouraging. I'd love it if someone would e-mail me a copy of the full report.

Charlie

[Charlie Hatchett]

All,

The following was just brought up to my attention by a colleague. It should be of interest to people involved in New World, “deep time” molecular prehistory.

Schroeder, K. B., T. G. Schurr, J. C. Long, N. A. Rosenberg, M. H. Crawford, L. A. Tarskaia, L. P. Osipova, S. I. Zhadanov, and D. G. Smith. A private allele ubiquitous in the Americas. 2007. Biology Letters 3, 218–223.

Abstract:
The three-wave migration hypothesis of Greenberg et al. has permeated the genetic literature on the peopling of the Americas. Greenberg et al. proposed that Na-Dene, Aleut-Eskimo and Amerind are language phyla which represent separate migrations from Asia to the Americas. We show that a unique allele at autosomal microsatellite locus D9S1120 is present in all sampled North and South American populations, including the Na-Dene and Aleut- Eskimo, and in related Western Beringian groups, at an average frequency of 31.7%. This allele was not observed in any sampled putative Asian source populations or in other worldwide populations. Neither selection nor admixture explains the distribution of this regionally specific marker. The simplest explanation for the ubiquity of this allele across the Americas is that the same founding population contributed a large fraction of ancestry to all modern Native American populations.

For access to the full paper, CLICK HERE, and if you’re out of the loop, don’t hesitate to ask around.

To put it very simply, as a prehistorian, I find the conclusions very encouraging.

Jacques

Interesting, Jacques.

I too find the abstract encouraging. I'd love it if someone would e-mail me a copy of the full report.

Charlie

I received a copy of the report. Thanks.

Jacques,

I noted in the report the population frequency of 9RA in the Surui is 97.1%. At face value, the high frequency seems to suggest a South American origin for modern "Native Americans". What are your thoughts?

Charlie