Genomic insights on the ethno-history of the Maya and the 'Ladinos' from Guatemala.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Guatemala is a multiethnic and multilingual country located in Central America. The main population groups separate 'Ladinos' (mixed Native American-African-Spanish), and Native indigenous people of Maya descent. Among the present-day Guatemalan Maya, there are more than 20 different ethnic groups separated by different languages and cultures. Genetic variation of these communities still remains largely unexplored. The principal aim of this study is to explore the genetic variability of the Maya and 'Ladinos' from Guatemala by means of uniparental and ancestry informative markers (AIMs).

Results

Analyses of uniparental genetic markers indicate that Maya have a dominant Native American ancestry (mitochondrial DNA [mtDNA]: 100%; Y-chromosome: 94%). 'Ladino', however

SUBMITTER: Sochtig J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4422311 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature