Brief Communication

Brief communication: mtDNA variation in North Cameroon: Lack of asian lineages and implications for back migration from Asia to sub-Saharan Africa

  1. Valentina Coia1,
  2. Giovanni Destro-Bisol1,*,
  3. Fabio Verginelli2,
  4. Cinzia Battaggia1,
  5. Ilaria Boschi3,
  6. Fulvio Cruciani4,
  7. Gabriella Spedini1,
  8. David Comas5,
  9. Francesc Calafell5

Article first published online: 13 MAY 2005

DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.20138

Issue

American Journal of Physical Anthropology

American Journal of Physical Anthropology

Volume 128, Issue 3, pages 678–681, November 2005

Additional Information

How to Cite

Coia, V., Destro-Bisol, G., Verginelli, F., Battaggia, C., Boschi, I., Cruciani, F., Spedini, G., Comas, D. and Calafell, F. (2005), Brief communication: mtDNA variation in North Cameroon: Lack of asian lineages and implications for back migration from Asia to sub-Saharan Africa. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol., 128: 678–681. doi: 10.1002/ajpa.20138

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Animal and Human Biology, University “La Sapienza,” 00185 Rome, Italy

  2. 2

    Department of Oncology and Neurosciences, Section of Molecular Pathology, University “G. d'Annunzio,” and Center for Research and Training on Cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa, University G. d'Annunzio Foundation, 66013 Chieti, Italy

  3. 3

    Institute of Legal Medicine, Catholic University, 00168 Rome, Italy

  4. 4

    Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, University “La Sapienza,” 00185 Rome, Italy

  5. 5

    Department de Ciències Experimentals i de la Salut, University “Pompeu Fabra,” 08003 Barcelona, Spain

*Department of Animal and Human Biology, University “La Sapienza,” P. le A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 21 OCT 2005
  2. Article first published online: 13 MAY 2005
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 29 JUN 2004
  4. Manuscript Received: 25 OCT 2003

Funded by

  • M.I.U.R.. Grant Number: 2003054059
  • University of Rome “La Sapienza;”. Grant Number: G101819
  • European Science Foundation. Grant Number: BFF2002-10206-E
  • Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology. Grant Number: BOS2001-0794

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Keywords:

  • mtDNA U6 haplogroup;
  • Y-chromosome R1*-M173 haplogroup;
  • Fulbe

Abstract

The hypervariable region-1 and four nucleotide positions (10400, 10873, 12308, and 12705) of the coding region of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) were analyzed in 441 individuals belonging to eight populations (Daba, Fali, Fulbe, Mandara, Uldeme, Podokwo, Tali, and Tupuri) from North Cameroon and four populations (Bakaka, Bassa, Bamileke, and Ewondo) from South Cameroon. All mtDNAs were assigned to five haplogroups: three sub-Saharan (L1, L2, and L3), one northern African (U6), and one European (U5). Our results contrast with the observed high frequencies of a Y-chromosome haplogroup of probable Asian origin (R1*-M173) in North Cameroon. As a first step toward a better understanding of the evident discrepancy between mtDNA and Y-chromosome data, we propose two contrasting scenarios. The first one, here termed “migration and asymmetric admixture,” implies a back migration from Asia to North Cameroon of a population group carrying the haplotype R1*-M173 at high frequency, and an admixture process restricted to migrant males. The second scenario, on the other hand, temed “divergent drift,” implies that modern populations of North Cameroon originated from a small population group which migrated from Asia to Africa and in which, through genetic drift, Y-chromosome haplotype R1*-M173 became predominant, whereas the Asian mtDNA haplogroups were lost. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

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