Faculty Publications

La Divergencia Genética Entre Poblaciones Del área Andina Centro Meridional Evaluada Mediante Rasgos No Métricos Del Cráneo

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Revista Argentina De Antropologia Biologica

Volume

11

Issue

1

Abstract

For more than 10,000 years, the south central Andean region was an ideal location for the development of different populations and cultural entities, interacting through a wide network of exchange and distribution of products. In spite of this level of interaction, the available metric information (Bolivia, North of Chile, and Northwest of Argentina) showed a strong process of genetic divergence (FST = 0.195) among the sub-regions (Varela et al., 2008). This evidence is contrasted in the present work by means of the analysis of a sample of 1416 individuals of both sexes, covering a span of 4500 years. Twelve non-metric cranial traits, observed and scored as either present or absent, were employed. Differences between sub-regions were evaluated by means of the standardized mean measure of divergence (MMDS) and Mahalanobis distance (D2) was calculated with principal components. Both matrices of biological distances, representing phenotypic distances, presented a high correlation, level. The greatest distance was registered between northwestern Argentina and northern Chile, with Bolivia in an equidistant position away from both. Within each region the samples are more related to each other ((Cochabamba), (Puna, Quebrada, Valliserrana and Pampa Grande), (Arica, Pisagua, Norte Semiarido)). The greatest connection is between Cochabamba and northwestern Argentina, while the largest divergence can be seen between the groups of Chile. Thus, we propose a populating model based on the subdivision of an ancestral population into two branches, one occupied the north of Chile and the other the northwest of Argentina. In each case, the dispersal process gave rise to several lines that differentiated gradually as they moved south in their exploration of new environments guaranteeing their survival.

Department

Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminology

Original Publication Date

1-1-2009

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