Person: Lopez, John
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Lopez, John
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Publication Genetic Diversity in Urban and Rural Indigenous Mexico(2016-02-18) Lopez, John; Bieber, Frederick R.; Denkin, Steven M.The goal of this study was to examine the genetic diversity of indigenous (and semi-indigenous) populations in Mexico and determine if any genetic variation correlated to culture and language. Mexico’s indigenous populations have not been extensively studied using contemporary genetic typing systems; the ones conducted used too few loci, or very small sample sizes. Mexico has 291 living native languages derived from twelve separate and distinct linguistic families divided into 68 major linguistic groups, and an indigenous culture just as diverse. Previous notions that ancient Mexican civilizations were “obliterated” were wrong—they were simply transformed—and many ideas of pre-colonial indigenous-Spanish relations were also recently determined ‘incorrect’, thus presenting us with redefined variables to explore, genetically. To pursue the potential link between genetic diversity, native culture and language preservation, I selected small indigenous towns in Mexico where native languages were still commonly spoken, and native culture conservation deemed high. I used STR profiles and mtDNA sequence data, in conjunction with corresponding questionnaire data, to compare and contrast genetic profiles of individuals grouped according to Mexican town based on culture and native language preservation. This information was then compared to previously published population studies of various peoples. The chief results emerging from this study were that our sampled populations: (1) had the highest intra-population variance in North America, (2) had the lowest inter-population variance in North America, (3) maintained low mtDNA haplotype polymorphism while yielding high mtDNA haplogroup diversity, and (4) exhibited no traces of haplotype X2a, which one typically expects to find in native North American populations. This study confirmed that Mexican haplotypes are mainly derived from the common Native American haplogroups of A2, B2, C1, and D1, and that indigenous American populations exhibit low haplogroup polymorphism when compared to Caucasian populations. It also forces reexamination of previously held notions of the genetics of Mexico. Historical records described that many European women migrated to Mexico, thus why large numbers of mtDNA with European lineage are expected to be found in Mexico. Our findings suggested the opposite. Native Mexicans preserved their native mtDNA lineage, and Europeans did not contribute much genetic influence; genetic drift was the main driver of mtDNA diversity. Similarly, another study showed that there was no significant link between indigenous Mexicans communities who maintained a high proportion of culture and language preservation—our entire study suggested this to be unfounded.