Paleogenetic Studies in Guajajara Skeletal Remains, Maranhão State, Brazil

Abstract

In the early 17th century, French and Portuguese colonizers and Jesuit priests settled in the state of Maranhão and made contact with the Guajajara, an ethnic group that lived along the margins of the Pindaré River. The Guajajara maintained contact with Brazilian national society over the centuries, including with Brazilian admixed populations, and with African slaves that flocked towards the region from the 18th century onwards. The present study investigates the origins of this admixture using mitochondrial genetic variability. The bones of 12 individuals investigated, which are currently part of the collection of the National Museum, were tested for genetic diversity. aDNA was extracted by the phenol-chloroform method and by DNA IQ (Promega, Madison, WI, USA). Amplification of the HVS I region was performed by PCR, followed by direct sequencing using the Big Dye kit (Life Technologies, Foster City, CA, USA). This region was found to represent haplogroups of Amerindians (A, C, and D) and Africans (L, L1b, L1c, and L3). The presence of African haplogroups in Guajajara bones from as early as the 18th century is consistent with historical and anthropological data, suggesting the admixture with Africans and/or Afrodescendants. Therefore, this study demonstrates that women with African haplogroups were introduced into the Guajajara population.

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Genetic ancestry inferred from autosomal and Y chromosome markers and HLA genotypes in Type 1 Diabetes from an admixed Brazilian population

“…In almost all Brazilian populations, an asymmetric mating pattern usually occurs, mainly between European men and Native American or African women 6 . However, in Maranhão, it also occurred between African men and Native American women 22 , and Native American men with African or admixed women 23 . Thus, in Maranhão, three asymmetric mating models were identified.…”

Genetic Ancestry Inferred From Autosomal and Y Chromosome Markers and HLA Genotypes in Type 1 Diabetes From an Admixed Brazilian Population.

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