Genetic Structure of a 2,500-Year-Old Human Population in China and
Its Spatiotemporal Changes
Abstract
To examine temporal changes in population genetic structure, we
compared the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences of three populations
that lived in the same location, Linzi, China, in different periods:
2,500 years ago (the SpringAutumn era), 2,000 years ago (the Han
era), and the present day. Two indices were used to compare the
genetic differences: the frequency distributions of the radiating
haplotype groups and the genetic distances among the populations. The
results indicate that the genetic backgrounds of the three
populations are distinct from each other. Inconsistent with the
geographical distribution, the 2,500-year-old Linzi population showed
greater genetic similarity to present-day European populations than
to present-day east Asian populations. The 2,000-year-old Linzi
population had features that were intermediate between the present-
day European/2,500-year-old Linzi populations and the present-day
east Asian populations. These relationships suggest the occurrence of
drastic spatiotemporal changes in the genetic structure of Chinese
people during the past 2,500 years.
http://www.molbiolevol.org/cgi/content/full/17/9/1396