ABSTRACT
Reunion Island is a French territory located in the western Indian Ocean. The genetic pattern of the Reunionese population has been shaped by contributions from highly contrasting regions of the world. Over the last 350 years, several migration waves and cultural and socio-economic factors have led to the emergence of six main ethnic groups in Reunion. India is one of the principal regions that contributed to the setting up of the Reunionese population. Diversity, demographic and admixture analyses were performed on mtDNA variation of the Reunionese of Indian ancestry, including the Malbar and Zarab ethnic groups, in order to question their history. Using a phylogeographical approach, we generated and analysed quantitative data on the contribution of the Indian parental populations. Furthermore, we showed that the settlement of Reunion Island by Indians did not involve a founder effect, except in the very beginning of the Reunionese settlement (at the end of the 17(th) century). The accuracy of our results was optimised by a re-evaluation of the classification of the Southern Asian mtDNA haplogroups. Finally, by comparing our results to a previous study dealing with the Reunionese population, we highlighted how ethno-historical data are critical for reconstructing the complex history of multiethnic populations.
Subject(s)
DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics , Genetic Variation , Genetics, Population , White People/genetics , Founder Effect , Humans , Phylogeny , Population Dynamics , Reunion/ethnologyABSTRACT
Through the sequencing of the complete mitochondrial genome of three individuals of Malagasy ancestry, we completed the characterization of the island southeastern Asian specific M46 haplogroup. We assumed that the association of the np 3588 and np 16278 polymorphisms were M46 specific. In addition, we characterized a novel basal M subhaplogroup: M23. This clade can be defined by one coding region transition at np 10295 and one control region transition at np 16263. Our data suggest the arrival of South Asian migrants before the start of the 15th century and highlights the fact that future studies dealing with the settlement of Madagascar should consider at least three potential source populations (Africa, Indonesia, and India).
Subject(s)
Asian People/genetics , Genetics, Population , Genome, Mitochondrial/genetics , Emigration and Immigration , Evolution, Molecular , Genetic Variation/genetics , Haplotypes/genetics , Humans , Madagascar , Phylogeny , Polymorphism, Genetic/genetics , Population Groups/geneticsABSTRACT
One hundred and twenty-three unrelated individuals belonging to two ethnic groups (Shinwa and Zarab) of Asian ancestry from Reunion Island (Indian Ocean) were analyzed for 10 Y-STR loci. Haplotype diversity and frequencies were determined for loci DYS19, DYS385a/b, DYS388, DYS389I, DYS389II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393 and YCAIIa/b. The two ethnic groups do not share haplotypes, and a total of 98 distinct haplotypes were identified. Unique haplotypes were obtained for 49 Shinwa and 33 Zarab. Moreover, 52 of the identified distinct haplotypes revealed to have not been described to date.
