Mitochondrial DNA analysis suggests a Chibchan migration into Colombia

Abstract

The characterization of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) allows the establishment of genetic structures and phylogenetic relationships in human populations, tracing lineages far back in time. We analysed samples of mtDNA from twenty (20) Native American populations (700 individuals) dispersed throughout Colombian territory. Samples were collected during 1989-1993 in the context of the program Expedición Humana ("Human Expedition") and stored in the Biological Repository of the Institute of Human Genetics (IGH) at the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (Bogotá, Colombia). Haplogroups were determined by analysis of RFLPs. Most frequent was haplogroup A, with 338 individuals (48.3%). Haplogroup A is also one of the most frequent haplogroups in Mesoamerica, and we interpret our finding as supporting models that propose Chibchan-speaking groups migrated to northern Colombia from Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. Haplogroup C was found in 199 individuals (28.4%), while less frequent were B and D, with 113 and 41 (16% and 6%) individuals, respectively. The haplogroups of nine (9) individuals (1.3%) could not be determined due to the low quality of the samples of DNA. Although all the sampled populations had genetic structures that fit broadly into the patterns that might be expected for contemporary Central and South American indigenous groups, it was found that haplogroups A and B were more frequent in northern Colombia, while haplogroups C and D were more frequent in southern and south-western Colombia.

Análisis genético de restos humanos precolombinos del Bajo Magdalena sugiere una ruta migratoria y continuidad genética matrilineal en el norte de Suramérica

“…In contemporary populations, the most frequent haplogroup is A (48.3%), one of the most common in Mesoamerica, which supports those models proposing early Chibchan linguistic group migrations from Mesoamerica to South America. Haplogroup C (28.4%) has also been found in previous studies and, less frequently, haplogroups B (16%) and D (6%) (Noguera, et al, 2015). Population dynamics among the Paleo-Colombian populations has been somewhat different: in the Cundi-Boyacense high plains, a predominance of haplogroups A and B has been reported (Casas-Vargas, et al, 2017;Silva, et al, 2008), as well as a higher frequency of haplogroup B in different Colombian regions with the continued presence of diverse haplogroups such as the B2 and the C1 in the Andes region (Díaz-Matallana, et al, 2016), Norte de Santander (Romero-Murillo, 2016), and Santander (Casas-Vargas, et al, 2011).…”

“…Nat. 44(172):704-715, julio-septiembre de 2020 A predominance of the founding American mitochondrial haplogroups (A-D) has been reported in Colombia (Silva, et al, 2008;Casas-Vargas, et al, 2011;Noguera, et al, 2015;Díaz-Matallana, et al, 2016;Casas-Vargas, et al, 2017). In contemporary populations, the most frequent haplogroup is A (48.3%), one of the most common in Mesoamerica, which supports those models proposing early Chibchan linguistic group migrations from Mesoamerica to South America.…”

“…Northwestern South America is a key territory for population studies, as it constitutes a passage for both North-South and South-North migrations in the new continent. There have been recent attempts to identify how early settlements in the Colombian territory took place based on biological samples and the analysis of different molecular markers (Casas-Vargas, et al, 2017;Díaz-Matallana, et al, 2016;Noguera-Santamaría, et al, 2015;Noguera, et al, 2014;Casas-Vargas, et al, 2011;Jara, et al, 2010;Uricoechea, et al, 2010;Keyeux & Usaquén, 2008;Briceño, 2003;Keyeux, et al, 2002;Noguera & Bernal, 2010).…”

Ancient DNA reconstructs the genetic legacies of pre-contact Puerto Rico communities

“…Coalescent analyses indicate C1b2 arose in that continent approximately 2,000 YBP (Perego, et al 2010;Gomez-Carballa, et al 2015). It has been identified in Amazonian populations 12 including the Yanomamö, Kraho, Marikitare and Pasto from Colombia, Brazil and Venezuela, and in communities of Indigenous-descent from Uruguay (Torroni, et al 1993;Williams, et al 2002;Noguera-Santamaría, et al 2015;Sans, et al 2015). C1b2 is also the most frequent C1 lineage found in presentday Puerto Ricans (Martínez-Cruzado 2010; Vilar, et al 2014).…”

The daily grind: Sex‐ and age‐related activity patterns inferred from cross‐sectional geometry of long bones in a pre‐Columbian muisca population from Tibanica, Colombia

“…The Muisca occupied a large territory in the northern Andean mountains (the Eastern Cordillera, 2600 masl) of Colombia for at least 800 years, with the Early Muisca period marked from AD 800‐1200 and the Late Muisca period marked from AD 1200‐1600 (Figure ; Langebaek, ; Langebaek Rueda, 1995). Cultural and linguistic evidence has suggested the Muisca were part of the Chibchan language speaking groups, and recent aDNA analyses using haplogroup classifications linked the ancient Muisca to Chibchan groups who likely migrated from Central America into northern South America thousands of years ago (Jara et al, ; Noguera‐Santamaría et al, ). The Muisca were therefore part of the larger Chibchan cultural landscape which extended from southern Central America into northern South America.…”