Maternal genetic history of southern East Asians over the past 12,000 years

Yalin Liu; Tianyi Wang; Xichao Wu; Xuechun Fan; Wei Wang; Guangmao Xie; Zhen Li; Qingping Yang; Peng Cao; Ruowei Yang; Feng Liu; Qingyan Dai; Xiaotian Feng; Wanjing Ping; Bo Miao; Yun Wu; Yichen Liu; Qiaomei Fu

doi:10.1016/j.jgg.2021.06.002

Maternal genetic history of southern East Asians over the past 12,000 years

J Genet Genomics. 2021 Oct 20;48(10):899-907. doi: 10.1016/j.jgg.2021.06.002. Epub 2021 Jun 21.

Authors

Yalin Liu¹, Tianyi Wang², Xichao Wu³, Xuechun Fan⁴, Wei Wang⁵, Guangmao Xie⁶, Zhen Li⁷, Qingping Yang⁷, Peng Cao⁸, Ruowei Yang⁸, Feng Liu⁸, Qingyan Dai⁸, Xiaotian Feng⁸, Wanjing Ping⁸, Bo Miao⁹, Yun Wu¹⁰, Yichen Liu¹¹, Qiaomei Fu¹²

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Center for Excellence in Life and Paleoenvironment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100044, China; Sino-Danish Center, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
² Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Center for Excellence in Life and Paleoenvironment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100044, China; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China.
³ Fujian Longyan Museum, Longyan 364000, China.
⁴ International Research Center for Austronesian Archaeology, Pingtan 350000, China; Fujian Museum, Fuzhou 350001, China.
⁵ Institute of Cultural Heritage, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China.
⁶ Guangxi Institute of Cultural Relic Protection and Archaeology, Nanning 530022, China; College of History, Culture and Tourism, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541001, China.
⁷ Guangxi Institute of Cultural Relic Protection and Archaeology, Nanning 530022, China.
⁸ Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Center for Excellence in Life and Paleoenvironment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100044, China.
⁹ Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Center for Excellence in Life and Paleoenvironment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100044, China; Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China.
¹⁰ Yunnan Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, Kunming 650118, China; Archaeological Institute for Yangtze Civilization, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China.
¹¹ Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Center for Excellence in Life and Paleoenvironment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100044, China. Electronic address: yichen.liu@ivpp.ac.cn.
¹² Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Center for Excellence in Life and Paleoenvironment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100044, China; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China. Electronic address: fuqiaomei@ivpp.ac.cn.

PMID: 34419425
DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2021.06.002

Abstract

Southern East Asia, including Guangxi and Fujian provinces in China, is home to diverse ethnic groups, languages, and cultures. Previous studies suggest a high complexity regarding population dynamics and the history of southern East Asians. However, large-scale genetic studies on ancient populations in this region are hindered by limited sample preservation. Here, using highly efficient DNA capture techniques, we obtain 48 complete mitochondrial genomes of individuals from Guangxi and Fujian in China and reconstruct their maternal genetic history over the past 12,000 years. We find a strong connection between southern East Asians dating to ~12,000-6000 years ago and present-day Southeast Asians. In addition, stronger genetic affinities to northern East Asians are observed in historical southern East Asians than Neolithic southern East Asians, suggesting increased interactions between northern and southern East Asians over time. Overall, we reveal dynamic connections between ancient southern East Asians and populations located in surrounding regions, as well as a shift in maternal genetic structure within the populations over time.

Keywords: Ancient DNA; Maternal genetic structure; Population history; Southern East Asians.

Publication types

Historical Article

MeSH terms

Asia, Eastern
Asian People* / genetics
China
DNA, Ancient / analysis
DNA, Mitochondrial / genetics
Female
Genetics, Population
Genome, Mitochondrial / genetics
Haplotypes / genetics
History, Ancient
Humans
Maternal Inheritance / genetics

Substances

DNA, Ancient
DNA, Mitochondrial

Grants and funding

55008731/HHMI/Howard Hughes Medical Institute/United States