DNA sequences of Alu elements indicate a recent replacement of the human autosomal genetic complement

Journal Article · Tue Apr 30 04:00:00 EDT 1996 · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.93.9.4360· OSTI ID:258612

Knight, A; Deininger, P L; Batzer, M A ^[1]

---

1. Louisiana State Univ. Medical Center, New Orleans, LA (United States); and others

DNA sequences of neutral nuclear autosomal loci, compared across diverse human populations, provide a previously untapped perspective into the mode and tempo of the emergence of modern humans and a critical comparison with published clonally inherited mitochondrial DNA and Y chromosome measurements of human diversity. We obtained over 55 kilobases of sequence from three autosomal loci encompassing Alu repeats for representatives of diverse human populations as well as orthologous sequences for other hominoid species at one of these loci. Nucleotide diversity was exceedingly low. Most individuals and populations were identical. Only a single nucleotide difference distinguished presumed ancestral alleles from descendants. These results differ from those expected if alleles from divergent archaic populations were maintained through multiregional continuity. The observed virtual lack of sequence polymorphism is the signature of a recent single origin for modern humans, with general replacement of archaic populations. 47 refs., 2 figs., 1 tab.

• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 258612
• Journal Information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Journal Name: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 93; ISSN PNASA6; ISSN 0027-8424
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

55 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BASIC STUDIES
DNA
EVALUATION
GENES
GENETIC MAPPING
HUMAN CHROMOSOMES
HUMAN POPULATIONS
ORIGIN