Scientists Map the Genetic History of Humans in the Caribbean

Scientists have officially mapped the genetic history of the Caribbean. Now, a team of researchers have found out whether indigenous communities still exist in the Caribbean region today.

"We're really trying to connect the dogs and understand the migration, the flow of people in and out of the region," said Theodore Schurr, one of the researchers, in a news release. "Each island seems to have its distinct history."

In this latest study, the researchers focused on DNA samples from 88 participants in the First Peoples Community in Trinidad and the Garifuna people in St. Vincent. By looking at the mitochondrial DNA, Y-chromosomes and autosomal markers, three parts of the genome known for containing "signals" of indigenous ancestry, the researchers detected 42 percent indigenous ancestry from the maternal side and 28 percent from the paternal side.

Mitochondrial DNA comes from the mother only, regardless of the number of generations considered. The Y-chromosome is the paternal correlate, or the complement to mitochondrial DNA, passed from fathers to sons. Autosomes do not reveal specific details about maternal and paternal lineage but give an overall picture of the genetic contributions from ancestors traced through both the mother's and father's sides of the family.

"In the case of the mitochondrial DNA and the Y-chromosome, we know the markers that define those lineages commonly seen in indigenous populations of the Americas," said Schurr.

The findings reveal a bit more about the genetic history of the Caribbean. It also shows that these communities do indeed have indigenous ancestry and are the descendants of the original inhabitants.

The findings are published in the journal PLOS One.

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