Clan, language, and migration history has shaped genetic diversity in Haida and Tlingit populations from Southeast Alaska.

ABSTRACT: The linguistically distinctive Haida and Tlingit tribes of Southeast Alaska are known for their rich material culture, complex social organization, and elaborate ritual practices. However, much less is known about these tribes from a population genetic perspective. For this reason, we analyzed mtDNA and Y-chromosome variation in Haida and Tlingit populations to elucidate several key issues pertaining to the history of this region. These included the genetic relationships of Haida and Tlingit to other indigenous groups in Alaska and Canada; the relationship between linguistic and genetic data for populations assigned to the Na-Dene linguistic family, specifically, the inclusion of Haida with Athapaskan, Eyak, and Tlingit in the language family; the possible influence of matrilineal clan str

SUBMITTER: Schurr TG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4335652 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature