Forensic and phylogeographic characterization of mtDNA lineages from northern Thailand (Chiang Mai)

Abstract

The immigration of diverse ethnic groups over the past centuries from surrounding countries into Thailand left footprints in the genetic composition of Thai mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) lineages. The entire mtDNA control region (1,122 bp) was typed in 190 unrelated male volunteers from the northern Thailand province of Chiang Mai following highest quality standards. For a more precise haplogroup classification, selected single nucleotide polymorphisms from the mtDNA coding region were genotyped. We found several new, so far undescribed mtDNA lineages. Quasi-median networks were constructed for visualisation of character conflicts. The data were put into population-genetic relationships with other Southeast Asian populations. Although the frequencies of the Thai haplogroups were characteristic for Southeast Asia in terms of haplotype composition and genetic structure, the Thai population was significantly different from other Southeast Asian populations. This necessitates establishing regional databases, especially for forensic applications. The population data have been submitted to the EMPOP database (www.empop.org) and will be available on publication.

Mitochondrial DNA evidence supports northeast Indian origin of the aboriginal Andamanese in the Late Paleolithic

“…Since we do not find any root lineage of M31a1 or M32 in Myanmar populations, suggesting Myanmar unlikely being the source place of haplogroup M31 or M32. After re-analyzing additional 4180 mtDNAs from East Asia (Qian et al, 2001;Wen et al, 2004;Li et al, 2007;Gan et al, 2008;Zhao et al, 2009), mainland Southeast Asia (Black et al, 2006;Li et al, 2007;Irwin et al, 2008;Lertrit et al, 2008;Zimmermann et al, 2009;Peng et al, 2010) and Island Southeast Asia (Tajima et al, 2004;Hill et al, 2006Hill et al, , 2007, we did not observe any M31 or M32 mtDNA either, again substantiating our observation.…”

Haplogrouping mitochondrial DNA sequences in Legal Medicine/Forensic Genetics

“…This is in line with haplogroup status M and covers also the insertion of three cytosines at site 573, which is characteristic of haplogroup M52a. An EMPOP query for the two variants 16275G and 16390A together, however, yields yet another hit with a forensic sample from Thailand, which was previously published by [49] and has haplogroup R9b1b status. The partial profile 16223T 16275G 16390A 489C 573.1C 573.2C 573.3C is distinctive enough to guarantee M52a status, although this entails that the definition of M52a may need some modification in the future by not necessarily requiring 16327A, for example.…”

Mitochondrial DNA diversity in a population from Santa Catarina (Brazil): predominance of the European input

“…On the other hand, the findings of a sizeable number of recent mtDNA studies in worldwide populations are indicative that the analysis of the entire mtDNA control region can yield higher values of the power of discrimination [8][9][10][11][12][13][14], which confers additional interest to mitochondrial genome from a forensic perspective. The present study is intended to characterize the diversity of the matrilineal lineages of the current population of Santa Catarina (Brazil) by analyzing the entire mitochondrial DNA control region.…”