Updated three-stage model for the peopling of the Americas - PubMed (original) (raw)

Updated three-stage model for the peopling of the Americas

Connie J Mulligan et al. PLoS One. 2008.

Abstract

Background: We re-assess support for our three stage model for the peopling of the Americas in light of a recent report that identified nine non-Native American mitochondrial genome sequences that should not have been included in our initial analysis. Removal of these sequences results in the elimination of an early (i.e. approximately 40,000 years ago) expansion signal we had proposed for the proto-Amerind population.

Methodology/findings: Bayesian skyline plot analysis of a new dataset of Native American mitochondrial coding genomes confirms the absence of an early expansion signal for the proto-Amerind population and allows us to reduce the variation around our estimate of the New World founder population size. In addition, genetic variants that define New World founder haplogroups are used to estimate the amount of time required between divergence of proto-Amerinds from the Asian gene pool and expansion into the New World.

Conclusions/significance: The period of population isolation required for the generation of New World mitochondrial founder haplogroup-defining genetic variants makes the existence of three stages of colonization a logical conclusion. Thus, our three stage model remains an important and useful working hypothesis for researchers interested in the peopling of the Americas and the processes of colonization.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1

Figure 1. Bayesian skyline plot of 148 Native American mitochondrial coding genome sequences.

The curve plots median Nef with 95% credible intervals indicated by light gray lines. The shaded gray box highlights the significant increase of Nef during the colonization of the Americas 16–12 kya. The blue box depicts the calculated time required for the generation of New World defining mitochondrial variants and its shaded region represents the variation in these estimates, i.e. 7–15 thousand years before entry to the New World (see Table 1). The green arrow identifies the date of the Yana River site of human occupation in western Beringia .

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