Bayesian analyses of Yemeni mitochondrial genomes suggest multiple migration events with Africa and Western Eurasia

Deven N Vyas; Andrew Kitchen; Aida T Miró-Herrans; Laurel N Pearson; Ali Al-Meeri; Connie J Mulligan

doi:10.1002/ajpa.22890

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Bayesian analyses of Yemeni mitochondrial genomes suggest multiple migration events with Africa and Western Eurasia

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Bayesian analyses of Yemeni mitochondrial genomes suggest multiple migration events with Africa and Western Eurasia

Deven N Vyas, Andrew Kitchen, Aida T Miró-Herrans, Laurel N Pearson, Ali Al-Meeri and Connie J Mulligan

American journal of physical anthropology, Vol.159(3), pp.382-393

03/2016

DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.22890

PMID: 26567083

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Abstract

Anatomically, modern humans are thought to have migrated out of Africa ∼60,000 years ago in the first successful global dispersal. This initial migration may have passed through Yemen, a region that has experienced multiple migrations events with Africa and Eurasia throughout human history. We use Bayesian phylogenetics to determine how ancient and recent migrations have shaped Yemeni mitogenomic variation. We sequenced 113 mitogenomes from multiple Yemeni regions with a focus on haplogroups M, N, and L3(xM,N) as these groups have the oldest evolutionary history outside of Africa. We performed Bayesian evolutionary analyses to generate time-measured phylogenies calibrated by Neanderthal and Denisovan mitogenomes in order to determine the age of Yemeni-specific clades. As defined by Yemeni monophyly, Yemeni in situ evolution is limited to the Holocene or latest Pleistocene (ages of clades in subhaplogroups L3b1a1a, L3h2, L3x1, M1a1f, M1a5, N1a1a3, and N1a3 range from 2 to 14 kya) and is often situated within broader Horn of Africa/southern Arabia in situ evolution (L3h2, L3x1, M1a1f, M1a5, and N1a1a3 ages range from 7 to 29 kya). Five subhaplogroups show no monophyly and are candidates for Holocene migration into Yemen (L0a2a2a, L3d1a1a, L3i2, M1a1b, and N1b1a). Yemeni mitogenomes are largely the product of Holocene migration, and subsequent in situ evolution, from Africa and western Eurasia. However, we hypothesize that recent population movements may obscure the genetic signature of more ancient migrations. Additional research, e.g., analyses of Yemeni nuclear genetic data, is needed to better reconstruct the complex population and migration histories associated with Out of Africa.

Africa

Asia, Western

Europe

Yemen

Anthropology, Physical

Bayes Theorem

Genome, Mitochondrial - genetics

Haplotypes

History, Ancient

Human Migration

Humans

Phylogeny

Details

Title: Subtitle: Bayesian analyses of Yemeni mitochondrial genomes suggest multiple migration events with Africa and Western Eurasia
Creators: Deven N Vyas - University of Florida
Andrew Kitchen - University of Iowa
Aida T Miró-Herrans - University of Florida
Laurel N Pearson - University of Florida
Ali Al-Meeri - Sana'a University
Connie J Mulligan - University of Florida
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: American journal of physical anthropology, Vol.159(3), pp.382-393
DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.22890
PMID: 26567083
NLM abbreviation: Am J Phys Anthropol
ISSN: 0002-9483
eISSN: 1096-8644
Grant note: Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Language: English
Date published: 03/2016
Academic Unit: Anthropology; International Programs
Record Identifier: 9984271555502771

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