Y-short tandem repeat haplotype and paternal lineage of the Ezhava population of Kerala, south India

Abstract

AimTo analyze the haplotype of the Ezhava population of Kerala, south India, using 8 short tandem repeat (STR) loci on the Y chromosome and trace the paternal genetic lineage of the population.MethodsWhole blood samples (n = 104) were collected from unrelated healthy men of the Ezhava population over a period of one year from October 2009. Genomic DNA was extracted by salting out method. All samples were genotyped for the 8 Y-STR loci by the AmpFiSTR Y-filer PCR Amplification Kit. The haplotype and allele frequencies were determined by direct counting and analyzed using Arlequin 3.1 software, and molecular variance was calculated with the Y-chromosome haplotype reference database online analysis tool, www.yhrd.org.ResultsAmong the 104 examined haplotypes, we found 98 unique ones. The average gene diversity was 0.669, with the highest diversity of 0.9462 observed for the biallelic Y-STR marker DYS 385. The allele frequency among DYS loci varied between 0.0096 and 0.75. Out of the 104 haplotypes, 10 were identical to the Jat Sikh population of Punjab, which is the greatest number among the Indian populations, and 4 to the Turkish population, which is the greatest number among the European populations. According to the allele frequency of Y-STR, the Ezhavas were genetically more similar to the Europeans (60%) than to the East Asians (40%).ConclusionThe vast majority of haplotypes were observed only once, reflecting the enormous genetic heterogeneity of the Ezhavas. Based on the genotype, the Ezhavas showed more resemblance to Jat Sikh population of Punjab and the Turkish populations than to the East Asians, hence indicating a paternal lineage of European origin.

Y-STR Haplogroup Diversity in the Jat Population Reveals Several Different Ancient Origins

“… Henke et al ( 2001 ); Sengupta et al ( 2006 ); Nagy et al ( 2007 ); Zhao et al ( 2009 ); Giroti and Talwar ( 2010 ); Nair et al ( 2011 ); Chennakrishnaiah et al ( 2013 ); Lee et al ( 2014 ); Genographic Project (Genographic, 2016 ) . …”

“…For other ethnic groups of the Indian subcontinent, a dataset of 1,855 men representing 38 ethnic groups in Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan was compiled from the Genographic Project database (Genographic, 2016 ), and published sources (Sengupta et al, 2006 ; Zhao et al, 2009 ; Giroti and Talwar, 2010 ; Nair et al, 2011 ; Chennakrishnaiah et al, 2013 ; Lee et al, 2014 ). All haplogroups for these records were predetermined at source, based on examination of SNPs in the lab with actual Y-DNA samples.…”

The Geographic Origins of Ethnic Groups in the Indian Subcontinent: Exploring Ancient Footprints with Y-DNA Haplogroups

“…A dataset of 2,504 Y chromosome profiles of 50 ethnic groups in the Indian subcontinent was compiled from eight different sources (Table 1 ). These included the Genographic Project database (Behar et al, 2007 ; Genographic, 2016 ), with permission of the National Geographic Society, and seven published sources (Sengupta et al, 2006 ; Nagy et al, 2007 ; Zhao et al, 2008 ; Giroti and Talwar, 2010 ; Nair et al, 2011 ; Chennakrishnaiah et al, 2013 ; Lee et al, 2014 ). The dataset represented 50 geographically diversified ethnic groups of the subcontinent, of which 39 groups were in India, nine were in Pakistan, and two were in Bangladesh.…”

Analysis of TNFRSF1A Gene R92Q Mutation in Familial Mediterranean Fever

“…The origin of the caste system in India is a matter of debate with many linguists and anthropologists suggesting that it began with the arrival of Indo-European speakers from Central Asia about 3500 years ago. Also, Indian castes have been found to be more closely related to the Central Asians than to the Indian tribal groups (Cordaux et al 2004;Nair et al 2011). Punjabi population possesses an exclusive genetic profile primarily due to the many migratory events in this region which caused an extensive range of genetic diversity.…”