Genetic Variation and Population Structure in Native Americans

We examined genetic diversity and population structure in the American landmass using 678 autosomal microsatellite markers genotyped in 422 individuals representing 24 Native American populations sampled from North, Central, and South America. These data were analyzed jointly with similar data available in 54 other indigenous populations worldwide, including an additional five Native American groups. The Native American populations have lower genetic diversity and greater differentiation than populations from other continental regions. We observe gradients both of decreasing genetic diversity as a function of geographic distance from the Bering Strait and of decreasing genetic similarity to Siberians--signals…

• BW
  Burroughs Wellcome Fund
• AP
  Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
• UO
  University of Michigan
• DA
  Departamento Administrativo de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación (COLCIENCIAS)
• UC
  University College London
• UD
  Universidad de Antioquia
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Awards: HG00040, GM28016, T32 HG00040
• CI
  Canadian Institutes of Health Research
• NH
  National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute