Dense sampling of ethnic groups within African countries reveals fine-scale genetic structure and extensive historical admixture.

ABSTRACT: Previous studies have highlighted how African genomes have been shaped by a complex series of historical events. Despite this, genome-wide data have only been obtained from a small proportion of present-day ethnolinguistic groups. By analyzing new autosomal genetic variation data of 1333 individuals from over 150 ethnic groups from Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Nigeria, and Sudan, we demonstrate a previously underappreciated fine-scale level of genetic structure within these countries, for example, correlating with historical polities in western Cameroon. By comparing genetic variation patterns among populations, we infer that many northern Cameroonian and Sudanese groups share genetic links with multiple geographically disparate populations, likely resulting from long-distance m

SUBMITTER: Bird N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10058250 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature