Microsatellite typing of ancient maize: insights into the history of agriculture in southern South America.

ABSTRACT: Archaeological maize specimens from Andean sites of southern South America, dating from 400 to 1400 years before present, were tested for the presence of ancient DNA and three microsatellite loci were typed in the specimens that gave positive results. Genotypes were also obtained for 146 individuals corresponding to modern landraces currently cultivated in the same areas and for 21 plants from Argentinian lowland races. Sequence analysis of cloned ancient DNA products revealed a high incidence of substitutions appearing in only one clone, with transitions prevalent. In the archaeological specimens, there was no evidence of polymorphism at any one of the three microsatellite loci: each exhibited a single allelic variant, identical to the most frequent allele found in contemporary population

SUBMITTER: Lia VV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1766387 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature