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Genomic Structure of the Immigrant Siddis of East Africa to Southern India: A Study of 20 Autosomal DNA Markers

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Abstract

The Siddis are a tribal group of African origin living in Karnataka, India. They have undergone considerable cultural change due to their proximity to neighboring population groups. To understand the biological consequences of these changes, we describe the genomic structure of the Siddis and the contribution from putative ancestral populations using 20 autosomal DNA markers. The distribution of Alu indel markers and a genetic distance analysis reveals their closer affinities with Africans. The levels of genomic diversity and heterozygosity are high in all the populations of southern India. Genetic admixture analysis reveals a predominant contribution from Africans, a lesser contribution from south Indians, and a slight one from Europeans. There is no evidence of gametic disequilibrium in the Siddis. The genetic homogeneity of the Siddis, in spite of its admixed origin, suggests the utility of this population for genetic epidemiological studies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anthropology, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India

    Mansi Gauniyal, Aastha Aggarwal & Gautam K. Kshatriya

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  1. Mansi Gauniyal
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  2. Aastha Aggarwal
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  3. Gautam K. Kshatriya
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Correspondence to Gautam K. Kshatriya.

Appendices

 

Appendix I Allele frequencies of 15 autosomal DNA loci among south Indian, African, and European populations
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Appendix II Allele frequencies for a trihybrid model of genetic admixture, with east Africans, south Indians, and Europeans as parental populations for the Siddis
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Gauniyal, M., Aggarwal, A. & Kshatriya, G.K. Genomic Structure of the Immigrant Siddis of East Africa to Southern India: A Study of 20 Autosomal DNA Markers. Biochem Genet 49, 427–442 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10528-011-9419-7

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