“Like sugar in milk”: reconstructing the genetic history of the Parsi population

Genome Biology

Satya Prakash¹  Alla G. Reddy¹  Kumarasamy Thangaraj¹  Deepa Selvi Rani¹  Niraj Rai¹  Kurush Dalal²  Syed Qasim Mehdi³  Sadaf Firasat³  Veena Mushrif-Tripathy⁴  Shagufta Khaliq⁵  Rakesh Tamang⁶  Ajai Kumar Pathak⁷  Ene Metspalu⁷  Richard Villems⁷  Mait Metspalu⁷  Gyaneshwer Chaubey⁷  Maere Reidla⁷  Monika Karmin⁷  Siiri Rootsi⁷  Jüri Parik⁷  Toomas Kivisild⁷  Lalji Singh⁸  Chris Tyler-Smith⁹  Massimo Mezzavilla⁹  Qasim Ayub⁹ 

[1] CSIR - Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology;Centre for Archaeology (CfA), Centre for Extra Mural Studies (CEMS) University of Mumbai (Kalina Campus) Vidyanagri;Centre for Human Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation;Department of Archaeology, Deccan College Post-Graduate and Research Institute;Department of Human Genetics & Molecular Biology, University of Health Sciences;Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta;Evolutionary Biology Group, Estonian Biocentre;Genome foundation, C/o Prasad Hospital, Nacharam;The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute;

关键词: Parsi;    Zoroastrian;    autosomes;    mtDNA;    Y chromosome;    ancient DNA;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13059-017-1244-9

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Background The Parsis are one of the smallest religious communities in the world. To understand the population structure and demographic history of this group in detail, we analyzed Indian and Pakistani Parsi populations using high-resolution genetic variation data on autosomal and uniparental loci (Y-chromosomal and mitochondrial DNA). Additionally, we also assayed mitochondrial DNA polymorphisms among ancient Parsi DNA samples excavated from Sanjan, in present day Gujarat, the place of their original settlement in India. Results Among present-day populations, the Parsis are genetically closest to Iranian and the Caucasus populations rather than their South Asian neighbors. They also share the highest number of haplotypes with present-day Iranians and we estimate that the admixture of the Parsis with Indian populations occurred ~1,200 years ago. Enriched homozygosity in the Parsi reflects their recent isolation and inbreeding. We also observed 48% South-Asian-specific mitochondrial lineages among the ancient samples, which might have resulted from the assimilation of local females during the initial settlement. Finally, we show that Parsis are genetically closer to Neolithic Iranians than to modern Iranians, who have witnessed a more recent wave of admixture from the Near East. Conclusions Our results are consistent with the historically-recorded migration of the Parsi populations to South Asia in the 7th century and in agreement with their assimilation into the Indian sub-continent's population and cultural milieu "like sugar in milk". Moreover, in a wider context our results support a major demographic transition in West Asia due to the Islamic conquest.

【 授权许可】

Unknown