Genetic structure and population connection of two Bouyei populations in northern Vietnam based on short tandem repeat analysis

Abstract

Objectives: Genetic characteristics were investigated based on short tandem repeat (STR) data to assess the relationship between two Vietnamese Bouyei populations in Vietnam. Methods: We collected hair and buccal swab samples from two separate Bouyei populations in the mountainous region of Northern Vietnam, which are the Bo Y in Ha Giang Province and the Tu Di in Lao Cai Province. The study included data of 23 autosomal and 27 Y-chromosome STRs loci of 96 unrelated participants from a total Vietnamese Bouyei population of under 3300 individuals. Results:The results showed that these STR markers are valuable for differentiation of individuals and human genetic studies in Vietnamese Bouyei populations. Genetic analysis indicated that Tu Di and Bo Y people were from the same Bouyei population in China. Conclusions:The results supported the official historical records of the region and the classification of the Vietnamese government. Furthermore, the genetic data provided in this study will be helpful in investigating the genetic genealogy evolution and settlement or migration patterns of the Bouyei populations in Vietnam.