Abstract
Red cell polymorphisms can provide evidence of human migration and adaptation patterns. In Eurasia, the distribution of Diego blood group system polymorphisms remains unaddressed. To shed light on the dispersal of the Dia antigen, we performed analyses of correlations between the frequencies of DI*01 allele, C2-M217 and C2-M401 Y-chromosome haplotypes ascribed as being of Mongolian-origin and language affiliations, in 75 Eurasian populations including DI*01 frequency data from the HGDP-CEPH panel. We revealed that DI*01 reaches its highest frequency in Mongolia, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan, expanding southward and westward across Asia with Altaic-speaking nomadic carriers of C2-M217, and even more precisely C2-M401, from their homeland presumably in Mongolia, between the third century BCE and the thirteenth century CE. The present study has highlighted the gene-culture co-migration with the demographic movements that occurred during the past two millennia in Central and East Asia. Additionally, this work contributes to a better understanding of the distribution of immunogenic erythrocyte polymorphisms with a view to improve transfusion safety.
Highlights
Central and East Asia underwent key human expansions since Paleolithic that have contributed to the present-day repartition of many cultural and biological features in Asia and beyond [1,2,3,4,5] (Fig. 1)
Highest frequencies were observed in Mongolia and Turkmenistan (0.121), followed by Kyrgyzstan and Japan
The C2-M217xM48 male-lineage, which amplified in Altaic-speaking pastoral nomadic groups [12, 18] signposts significantly the East-to-West Mongolian expansions which may have towed the Diego blood group polymorphism across Eurasia
Summary
Central and East Asia underwent key human expansions since Paleolithic that have contributed to the present-day repartition of many cultural and biological features in Asia and beyond [1,2,3,4,5] (Fig. 1). Archeological and historical records pointed out a reinforcement of population displacements since the Bronze Age (about the second millennium BCE), implying several main Steppe nomadic populations [6]. Originating from the Andronovo culture near the Volga river, they occupied the Pontic of the Black Sea (611 BCE), dominated Mesopotamia and Judea, reached Egypt and penetrated several times into Central Europe. When they reigned over the greater part of Central Asia steppes, the Scythians had an important part in the establishment of transcontinental trade, notably the Silk Road [1]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
