Isolation, contact and social behavior shaped genetic diversity in West Timor

• DOI: 10.1038/jhg.2014.62
• Publication Date: 2014-07-31T06:19:11Z
• Authors: Meryanne K Tumonggor; Tatiana M Karafet; Sean Downey; J Stephen Lansing; Peter Norquest; Herawati Sudoyo; Michael F Hammer; Murray P Cox
• Keywords: Haplogroup; Mainland

Timor, an eastern Indonesian island linking mainland Asia with Australia and the Pacific world, had a complex history, including its role as contact zone between two language families (Austronesian Trans-New Guinean), well preserving elements of rich Austronesian cultural heritage, such matrilocal marriage practices. Using array biparental (autosomal X-chromosome single-nucleotide polymorphisms) uniparental markers (Y chromosome mitochondrial DNA), we reconstruct broad genetic profile Timorese in Belu regency West traditional princedom Wehali, focusing on effects practices, social change, patterns diversity. Sex-linked data highlight different histories pressures experienced by women men. Measures diversity population structure show that men greater local mobility than women, expected communities, where remain their natal village, whereas move to home village wife. Reaching further back time, maternal loci (mitochondrial DNA X chromosome) are dominated lineages immigrant Asian origins, paternal tend exhibit earliest settlers region. The dominance female is especially apparent compared autosomes, suggesting played paramount during after period immigration into perhaps driven practices expanding communities.