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Nedra's Deep Ancestry
Results from National Geographic's Genographic 2 (Beta) Project

From the time I met her in 1966, Nedra knew that her straight dark hair, olive skin tone, dark eyes, and high cheek bones were traceable to her Native-American ancestors. From one conversation with her father, I had calculated the exact percentage on the basis of two separate Native-American lineages, both presumably pure Cherokee, and derived from Native Americans living in the Tennessee mountains, the home of the Lanes, Nedra's paternal grandmother's family. In a later conversation with a close relative, we learned that the Native-American ancestry included Choctaw, too. Having conflicting accounts from oral history (from her father) and putative detailed genealogical research (from the close relative referenced), she subsequently made other inquiries, but the returns were blank (i.e., older family members were unaware of a Native-American connection).

When National Geographic announced Version 2 of their Genographic Project, it was obvious that participation in this project would provide an account of her origins. The analysis is extremely robust (150,000 genomic markers, plus mitochondrial DNA analysis and Y-chromosome analysis (for men)). These markers have been associated with nine geographic regions through the analyis of 43 reference populations, including Native Americans (but the resolution does not distinguish tribes). Humans from most regions have a complex ancestry due to waves of migration, as mentioned later, and we also contain the legacy of our interbreeding with other ancient Homo species, viz., Neanderthals (for certain) and Denisovans (more tentative).

In this essay, I will summarize her results, but without details that might infringe on the intellectual property rights of National Geographic. Readers might appreciate the brevity anyhow.

Last edit: 2013-02-20
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The graphic at right ( from here) depicts major migratory routes from our original site of evolution in Africa. (This map shows a southern route across the Arabian Peninsula whereas others, a northern route near Cairo.) Note that Europeans arrived by different routes, as indicated by differential abundance of particular sequences, e.g., caused by mutation. It is therefore possible to distinguish Northern European ancestry (prototypical: Finnish) from Mediterranean ancestry (prototypical: Italian, ref). As alluded to, subsequent influx from different areas introduced new sequences (e.g., the Finnish population, which has a high degree of homozygosity, is mostly "Northern European," but contains very recently acquired different sequences, too). Of special relevance here, sequences in high abundance in SouthWest Asia show up relatively frequently in Europeans, e.g., 17% in both German and British populations.


Neanderthals and Denisovans (left) migrated out of Africa with us, and we interbred with them, as mentioned. Nedra is about 2% Neanderthal, which is typical of Europeans. She carries a smaller percentage of alleles traceable to Denisovans.

 

 

(Graphic at left and below, next section, from National Geographic, behind paywall.)

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Of the 43 reference populations, her genomic DNA (above) most resembles the German population. Of the German population, the Project explained, "The dominant 46% Northern European component likely reflects the earliest settlers in Europe, hunter-gatherers who arrived there more than 35,000 years ago. The 36% Mediterranean and 17% Southwest Asian percentages probably arrived later, with the spread of agriculture from the Fertile Crescent in the Middle East over the past 10,000 years. As these early farmers moved into Europe, they spread their genetic patterns as well. Today, northern and central European populations retain links to both the earliest Europeans and these later migrants from the Middle East."

Of the reference populations, her genomic DNA second most resembles the Greek population. Of the Greek population, the Project explained, "The 54% Mediterranean and 17% Southwest Asian percentages reflect the strong influence of agriculturalists from the Fertile Crescent in the Middle East, who arrived here more than 8,000 years ago. The 28% Northern European component likely comes from the pre-agricultural population of Europe—the earliest settlers, who arrived more than 35,000 years ago during the Upper Paleolithic period. Today, this component predominates in northern European populations, while the Mediterranean component is more common in southern Europe."

Mitochondria in humans are inherited maternally. Thus, MtDNA is passed 100% from a mother to her children, both sons and daughters, at the expense of redundancy: non-Mendelian. All humans are descendants of Mitochrondrial Eve, who lived in Africa about 180,000 years ago. Over time, mutations occurred in mtDNA; in this way, one change occurred just as humans emerged from Africa, a second occurred along the route in present-day Turkey, and so forth. Her mtDNA profile is similar that of about 20% of the inhabitants of western Europe and a few other places, including a localized region in the UK. (As additional information, we previously knew that she was genetically linked to Celts because she carries the HFE C282Y mutation for hereditary hemochromotosis, which is originated in that region.)

 

In Summary, the Project warned, "Expect surprises." How prophetic. Despite my repeated strong assertion that it is obvious based on her phenotype that she has Native American ancestry, it is not true. None, nada, zilch, nothing. For years, I called her affectionately 'my squaw,' without a hint of sexism or racism. All along, she was really Heidi. Live and learn.

 


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