scholarly journals Evidence of the interplay of genetics and culture in Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Saioa López ◽  
Ayele Tarekegn ◽  
Gavin Band ◽  
Lucy van Dorp ◽  
Nancy Bird ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Structure ◽  
Genetic Similarity ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Geographic Distance ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Genetic Studies ◽  
Sampling Protocols ◽  
Show Evidence ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Rich

AbstractThe rich linguistic, ethnic and cultural diversity of Ethiopia provides an unprecedented opportunity to understand the level to which cultural factors correlate with–and shape–genetic structure in human populations. Using primarily new genetic variation data covering 1,214 Ethiopians representing 68 different ethnic groups, together with information on individuals’ birthplaces, linguistic/religious practices and 31 cultural practices, we disentangle the effects of geographic distance, elevation, and social factors on the genetic structure of Ethiopians today. We provide evidence of associations between social behaviours and genetic differences among present-day peoples. We show that genetic similarity is broadly associated with linguistic affiliation, but also identify pronounced genetic similarity among groups from disparate language classifications that may in part be attributable to recent intermixing. We also illustrate how groups reporting the same culture traits are more genetically similar on average and show evidence of recent intermixing, suggesting that shared cultural traits may promote admixture. In addition to providing insights into the genetic structure and history of Ethiopia, we identify the most important cultural and geographic predictors of genetic differentiation and provide a resource for designing sampling protocols for future genetic studies involving Ethiopians.

scholarly journals The genetic landscape of Ethiopia: diversity, intermixing and the association with culture

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saioa López ◽  
Ayele Tarekegn ◽  
Gavin Band ◽  
Lucy van Dorp ◽  
Tamiru Oljira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Structure ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Geographic Distance ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Religious Groups ◽  
Sampling Protocols ◽  
Genetic Patterns ◽  
Genetic Landscape ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Rich

SummaryThe rich linguistic, ethnic and cultural diversity of Ethiopia provides an unprecedented opportunity to understand the level to which cultural factors correlate with -- and shape -- genetic structure in human populations. Using primarily novel genetic variation data covering 1,268 Ethiopians representing 68 different ethnic groups, together with information on individuals’ birthplaces, linguistic/religious practices and 31 cultural practices, we disentangle the effects of geographic distance, elevation, and social factors upon shaping the genetic structure of Ethiopians today. We provide examples of how social behaviours have directly -- and strongly -- increased genetic differences among present-day peoples. We also show the fluidity of intermixing across linguistic and religious groups. We identify correlations between cultural and genetic patterns that likely indicate a degree of social selection involving recent intermixing among individuals that have certain practices in common. In addition to providing insights into the genetic structure and history of Ethiopia, including how they correlate with current linguistic classifications, these results identify the most important cultural and geographic proxies for genetic differentiation and provide a resource for designing sampling protocols for future genetic studies involving Ethiopians.

scholarly journals The Genetic History of France

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aude Saint Pierre ◽  
Joanna Giemza ◽  
Matilde Karakachoff ◽  
Isabel Alves ◽  
Philippe Amouyel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Structure ◽  
Demographic History ◽  
Migration Routes ◽  
Effective Population ◽  
Genetic Studies ◽  
Independent Population ◽  
Genome Wide Data ◽  
Population Sizes ◽  
History Of ◽  
Exhaustive Study

ABSTRACTThe study of the genetic structure of different countries within Europe has provided significant insights into their demographic history and their actual stratification. Although France occupies a particular location at the end of the European peninsula and at the crossroads of migration routes, few population genetic studies have been conducted so far with genome-wide data. In this study, we analyzed SNP-chip genetic data from 2 184 individuals born in France who were enrolled in two independent population cohorts. Using FineStructure, six different genetic clusters of individuals were found that were very consistent between the two cohorts. These clusters match extremely well the geography and overlap with historical and linguistic divisions of France. By modeling the relationship between genetics and geography using EEMS software, we were able to detect gene flow barriers that are similar in the two cohorts and corresponds to major French rivers or mountains. Estimations of effective population sizes using IBDNe program also revealed very similar patterns in both cohorts with a rapid increase of effective population sizes over the last 150 generations similar to what was observed in other European countries. A marked bottleneck is also consistently seen in the two datasets starting in the fourteenth century when the Black Death raged in Europe. In conclusion, by performing the first exhaustive study of the genetic structure of France, we fill a gap in the genetic studies in Europe that would be useful to medical geneticists but also historians and archeologists.

Protecting Quaternary palaeoenvironmental sites in south-east Arabia: a database approach

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenta Sayama ◽  
Ash Parton ◽  
Heather Viles
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Conservation Strategy ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Educational Values ◽  
Potential Threat ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Rich ◽  
Imminent Threat ◽  
The Impact ◽  
First Time

<p>Quaternary palaeoenvironmental archives are essential for our understanding of past climate changes and humanity’s response to them. In the age of anthropogenic climate change, these sites are not only important scientifically, but also educationally to teach people about the impact of climate change, and the role it played in shaping past communities. </p><p>The landscape of the Arabian Peninsula is highly reactive to even subtle changes in climate and recent research has shown that palaeoenvironmental archives in south-east Arabia (i.e., dunes, fluvial/alluvial and palaeolake deposits, etc.) are crucial for our understanding of the role of climate change in the late-Pleistocene dispersal of early human populations out of Africa. The importance of archaeological sites in this region is increasingly recognised, with many sites benefitting from extensive research and conservation. Similarly, the rich geological history of the region has either been catalogued or protected with integration into national tourism strategies. Despite the the budding initiative of geoheritage conservation in Arabia, however, the protection of Quaternary palaeoenvironmental sites has been entirely disregarded.</p><p>With the lack of a protection framework and the continuous economic development of the region, many of these archives are under imminent threat or already destroyed. At present, no assessment has been conducted to examine the possible extent of such loss. Here we propose that a system must be established for scientists to record and highlight the potential threat of destruction of these irreplaceable archives.  Also, to protect these sites effectively, we must develop a conservation strategy with an understanding of the factors that differentiate them from geoheritage sites that already enjoy protection.</p><p>For the first time, this study has compiled a database of Quaternary palaeoenvironmental archives in south-east Arabia. A total of ~300 sites in the entire region have been assessed for their risk status, with ~100 sites in the UAE assessed additionally for their scientific and educational values. Preliminary results indicate that more than 10% of sites, mostly in urban or coastal settings, have been destroyed or are under imminent threat.  Furthermore, the prevailing prioritisation of conventional aesthetic values in geoheritage conservation has been identified as a major obstacle in promoting the conservation of these sites. </p>

scholarly journals Deep divergence between island populations in lichenized fungi

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Silke Werth ◽  
Peter Meidl ◽  
Christoph Scheidegger
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Structure ◽  
Population Genetic ◽  
Evolutionary History ◽  
Geographic Distance ◽  
Population Subdivision ◽  
Lobaria Pulmonaria ◽  
Island Populations ◽  
History Of ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Complex Evolutionary History

AbstractMacaronesia is characterized by a high degree of endemism and represents a noteworthy system to study the evolutionary history of populations and species. Here, we compare the population-genetic structure in three lichen-forming fungi, the widespread Lobaria pulmonaria and two Macaronesian endemics, L. immixta and L. macaronesica, based on microsatellites. We utilize population genetic approaches to explore population subdivision and evolutionary history of these taxa on the Canary Islands, Madeira, Azores, and the western Iberian Peninsula. A common feature in all species was the deep divergence between populations on the Azores, a pattern expected by the large geographic distance among islands. For both endemic species, there was a major split between archipelagos. In contrast, in the widespread L. pulmonaria, divergent individuals were distributed across multiple archipelagos, suggesting a complex evolutionary history involving repeated migration between islands and mainland.

scholarly journals Demographic history and admixture dynamics in African Sahelian populations

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Viktor Černý ◽  
Cesar Fortes-Lima ◽  
Petr Tříska
Keyword(s):  
Demographic History ◽  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
African Region ◽  
Genetic Studies ◽  
Genomic Studies ◽  
History Of ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
High Degree ◽  
The Impact

Abstract The Sahel/Savannah belt of Africa is a contact zone between two subsistence systems (nomadic pastoralism and sedentary farming) and of two groups of populations, namely Eurasians penetrating from northern Africa southwards and sub-Saharan Africans migrating northwards. Because pastoralism is characterised by a high degree of mobility, it leaves few significant archaeological traces. Demographic history seen through the lens of population genetic studies complements our historical and archaeological knowledge in this African region. In this review, we highlight recent advances in our understanding of demographic history in the Sahel/Savannah belt as revealed by genetic studies. We show the impact of food-producing subsistence strategies on population structure as well as the somewhat different migration patterns in the western and eastern part of the region. Genomic studies show that the gene pool of various groups of Sahelians consists in a complex mosaic of several ancestries. We also touch upon various signals of genetic adaptations such as lactase persistence, taste sensitivity, and malaria resistance, all of which have different distribution patterns among Sahelian populations. Overall, genetic studies contribute to gain a deeper understanding about the demographic and adaptive history of human populations in this specific African region and beyond.

Fine-scale Genetic Structure of Eucalyptus globulus ssp. globulus Forest Revealed by RAPDs

1998 ◽  
Vol 46 (6) ◽  
pp. 583 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Skabo ◽  
R. E. Vaillancourt ◽  
B. M. Potts
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Structure ◽  
Eucalyptus Globulus ◽  
Genetic Similarity ◽  
Group Structure ◽  
Geographic Distance ◽  
Background Level ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Native Forest ◽  
Fine Scale ◽  
Average Similarity

Fine-scale genetic structure in Eucalyptus globulus ssp. globulus native forest was detected using 69 randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. The association between genetic similarity and geographic distance was studied among 51 trees from the Tinderbox locality in Tasmania (distance ranging from 2 m to 4 km apart) and compared to 18 trees from localities up to 100 km away. Twenty pedigreed F1s were used as controls to scale the RAPD similarity among individuals to pedigree similarity. The association between genetic similarity and geographic distance was weak, yet at Tinderbox, highly related trees were shown to occur within 25 m of one another. There is an abrupt drop in average similarity after about 25 m, with no significant change with distances up to 14 km. Nevertheless, Tinderbox trees outside the 25 m genetic patches are still more similar to each other than they are to trees from the Mayfield Bay locality 100 km away. These results suggest that E. globulus native forests have a family group structure, superimposed on a noisy, background level of lower relatedness which extends over a wider geographical range. This study is unique in demonstrating the congruence between fine-scale genetic structure as revealed by molecular data and previous quantitative genetic data.

scholarly journals The Genetic Structure and East-West Population Admixture in Northwest China Inferred From Genome-Wide Array Genotyping

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bin Ma ◽  
Jinwen Chen ◽  
Xiaomin Yang ◽  
Jingya Bai ◽  
Siwei Ouyang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Structure ◽  
Northwest China ◽  
Population History ◽  
Genetic Admixture ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Supporting Evidence ◽  
Chinese Populations ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
History Of ◽  
East And West

Northwest China is a contacting region for East and West Eurasia and an important center for investigating the migration and admixture history of human populations. However, the comprehensive genetic structure and admixture history of the Altaic speaking populations and Hui group in Northwest China were still not fully characterized due to insufficient sampling and the lack of genome-wide data. Thus, We genotyped genome-wide SNPs for 140 individuals from five Chinese Mongolic, Turkic speaking groups including Dongxiang, Bonan, Yugur, and Salar, as well as the Hui group. Analysis based on allele-sharing and haplotype-sharing were used to elucidate the population history of Northwest Chinese populations, including PCA, ADMIXTURE, pairwise Fst genetic distance, f-statistics, qpWave/qpAdm and ALDER, fineSTRUCTURE and GLOBETROTTER. We observed Dongxiang, Bonan, Yugur, Salar, and Hui people were admixed populations deriving ancestry from both East and West Eurasians, with the proportions of West Eurasian related contributions ranging from 9 to 15%. The genetic admixture was probably driven by male-biased migration- showing a higher frequency of West Eurasian related Y chromosomal lineages than that of mtDNA detected in Northwest China. ALDER-based admixture and haplotype-based GLOBETROTTER showed this observed West Eurasian admixture signal was introduced into East Eurasia approximately 700 ∼1,000 years ago. Generally, our findings provided supporting evidence that the flourish transcontinental communication between East and West Eurasia played a vital role in the genetic formation of northwest Chinese populations.

scholarly journals The Genomic History of the Middle East

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed A. Almarri ◽  
Marc Haber ◽  
Reem A. Lootah ◽  
Pille Hallast ◽  
Saeed Al Turki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Middle Eastern ◽  
High Coverage ◽  
Hunter Gatherers ◽  
Genetic Studies ◽  
Important Region ◽  
Show Evidence ◽  
History Of ◽  
Out Of Africa ◽  
Desert Climate

AbstractThe Middle East is an important region to understand human evolution and migrations, but is underrepresented in genetic studies. We generated and analysed 137 high-coverage physically-phased genome sequences from eight Middle Eastern populations using linked-read sequencing. We found no genetic traces of early expansions out-of-Africa in present-day populations, but find Arabians have elevated Basal Eurasian ancestry that dilutes their Neanderthal ancestry. A divergence in population size within the region starts before the Neolithic, when Levantines expanded while Arabians maintained small populations that could have derived ancestry from local epipaleolithic hunter-gatherers. All populations suffered a bottleneck overlapping documented aridification events, while regional migrations increased genetic structure, and may have contributed to the spread of the Semitic languages. We identify new variants that show evidence of selection, some dating from the onset of the desert climate in the region. Our results thus provide detailed insights into the genomic and selective histories of the Middle East.

A Qualified Assertion Database for the History of Places

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 95-115
Author(s):  
Brandon Plewe
Keyword(s):  
Data Model ◽  
Temporal Change ◽  
Religious Congregations ◽  
Historical Gis ◽  
The Past ◽  
Model Based ◽  
Complex Information ◽  
Invaluable Tool ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Rich

Historical place databases can be an invaluable tool for capturing the rich meaning of past places. However, this richness presents obstacles to success: the daunting need to simultaneously represent complex information such as temporal change, uncertainty, relationships, and thorough sourcing has been an obstacle to historical GIS in the past. The Qualified Assertion Model developed in this paper can represent a variety of historical complexities using a single, simple, flexible data model based on a) documenting assertions of the past world rather than claiming to know the exact truth, and b) qualifying the scope, provenance, quality, and syntactics of those assertions. This model was successfully implemented in a production-strength historical gazetteer of religious congregations, demonstrating its effectiveness and some challenges.

The Beginnings of Islam in Afghanistan

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arezou Azad
Keyword(s):  
Paradigm Shift ◽  
Political System ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Eighth Century ◽  
Religious Context ◽  
Early Islam ◽  
History Of ◽  
Initial Conversion ◽  
The Way

Covering the period from 709 to 871, this chapter traces the initial conversion of Afghanistan from Zoroastrianism and Buddhism to Islam. Highlighting the differential developments in four regions of Afghanistan, it discusses the very earliest history of Afghan Islam both as a religion and as a political system in the form of a caliphate.  The chapter draws on under-utilized sources, such as fourth to eighth century Bactrian documents from Tukharistan and medieval Arabic and Persian histories of Balkh, Herat and Sistan. In so doing, it offers a paradigm shift in the way early Islam is understood by arguing that it did not arrive in Afghanistan as a finished product, but instead grew out of Afghanistan’s multi-religious context. Through fusions with Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, early Abrahamic traditions, and local cult practices, the Islam that resulted was less an Arab Islam that was imported wholesale than a patchwork of various cultural practices.

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