The genetic structure of a tribal population, the Yanomama Indians V. Comparisons of a series of genetic networks*^,†

Abstract

SUMMARY The model of Cavalli‐Sforza and Edwards was used to investigate the gentic relationships of thirty‐seven Yanomama villages. Using gene frequency data from eleven genetic systems (MNS, P, Rh, Duffy, Kidd, Diego, Lewis, haptoglobin, Ge, PGM, and acid phosphatase), three hierarchical levels of analysis were carried out. The first level involved in the construction of a gentic network, based on genetic distance between villages, for each of three historically defined clusters of villages. Upon comparing the results with ethnohistory there was shown to be a good agreement between the historical development of a cluster and its genetic network. At the second level of analysis a genetic network was constructed in similar fashion for nineteen villages of the Western Yanomama subgroup, including the three village clusters previously analysed. At this level the integrity of the village clusters was largely maintaine, exceptions being due to specific socio‐political events that resulted in changes of the composition of the village gene pool. The highest level resulted in the construction of a network for all thirty‐seven villages which showed three of the five geographically defined tribal subgroups as distinct entities. The result of these analyses indicate that the model of Cavalli‐Sforza and Edwards can under certain circimstances be used when the requirements of the midel arenot met, and furthermore that the rate of divergence of human populations may approach a steady state at the level of major tribal subgroupings.

The JC and BK human polyoma viruses appear to be recent introductions to some South American Indian tribes: There is no serological evidence of cross-reactivity with the simian polyoma virus SV40

“…Ward (ref. 42; see also ref. 43) has published a map of the distribution of the Yanomama villages contacted in our studies and has determined that a genetic cluster analysis appears to partition the Yanomama into six numbered groups, occupying contiguous geographic areas.…”

Us and them: archaeology and ethnicity in the Andes

“…A map showing the major historical movements and approximate fission dates of the Yanomamö clusters and villages. The inset shows the distribution of the Yanomamö in South America (from Ward 1972, original sources Chagnon 1966, 1968b. The Shamatari movements are indicated by the unbroken arrows.…”

“…They have been the subjects of decades of research by many anthropologists and medical researchers, resulting in a rare combination of detailed social, medical, and genetic information (Chagnon 1968a(Chagnon , 1974(Chagnon , 1975(Chagnon , 1979Chagnon and Irons 1979;Chagnon et al 1970;Ferguson 1995;Hänni et al 1995;Henley 1995;Lizot 1985;Neel 1967Neel , 1970Neel, Rothhammer, and Lingoes 1974;Neel and Weiss 1975;Ramos 1995;Smole 1976;Ward 1972;Ward et al 1975;Williams, Chagnon, and Spielman 2002). Their social and political organization has been well studied, so we can make reasonable predictions about how that organization may be reflected in the genetic structure or genetic patterning within the group.…”

Area program in population genetics

“…the Shamatari and the Namoweitari (see Ward, 1972). In addition two other well documented instances of fusion could be examined in the light of their genetic consequences.…”