Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2026
09:04
Yeast Colony Embedding Method
Published on: March 22, 2011
Relatedness and kin-structured migration in a founding population: Plymouth Colony, 1620-1633
1Laboratory of Biological Anthropology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City 84112.
Human Biology
|June 1, 1991
Summary
The Plymouth Colony founding population had low genetic relatedness, with females showing higher kinship than males. This suggests community history and recruitment practices influenced migration patterns.
Area of Science:
- Population genetics
- Anthropological genetics
- Historical demography
Background:
- The assumption of no genetic relationship in founding populations is common.
- Understanding kinship structures in early colonial migrations is crucial for historical demography.
Observation:
- Average relatedness (r) was calculated for 355 emigrants to Plymouth Colony (1620-1633).
- Genealogic depth of four generations was accounted for, identifying 255 individuals.
- Mean r was 0.00399, with significant differences observed between sexes.
Findings:
- Females exhibited a higher mean relatedness (0.00557) compared to males (0.00308), with a lower proportion of females having no relatives.
- Kinship links were predominantly within nuclear families (79.8%).
- Relatedness was highest among individuals on the same voyage, indicating kin-structured migration.
Implications:
- The low relatedness in the Plymouth Colony founding population is attributed to specific community history and recruitment strategies.
- This finding challenges the assumption of complete genetic unrelatedness in founding populations.
- The study provides insights into the social and familial structures influencing early colonial settlement.
Related Concept Videos
01:09Cell Migration
Cell migration, the process by which cells move from one location to another, is essential for the proper development and viability of organisms throughout their life. When cells are not able to migrate properly to their ordained locations, various disorders may occur. For example, disruption in cell migration causes chronic inflammatory diseases such as arthritis.
00:53Migration
Migration is long-range, seasonal movement from one region or habitat to another. This common strategy, carried out by many different organisms around the world, is an adaptive response that typically corresponds to changes in an organism’s environment, like resource availability or climate. Migrations can involve huge groups of thousands of animals as well as single individuals traveling alone and can range from thousands of kilometers to just a few hundred meters.
02:39Gene Flow
Gene flow is the transfer of genes among populations, resulting from either the dispersal of gametes or from the migration of individuals.
01:19Cell Migration
Cell migration is a process by which the cells move from one location to another, playing an essential role in embryological development, repair and regeneration, immune response, and metastasis. Cells migrate in response to chemical or mechanical signals generated by specific organs or tissues. The overall mechanism includes three steps - polarization, protrusion, and release. Polarization involves the formation of a distinct cell front and rear, which determines the direction of movement.
01:32Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration
A migrating cell changes its shape during the cyclic events of attachment and detachment from the substratum and repositions the cell organelles correspondingly. These complex events are orchestrated by the dynamic cytoskeletal network comprising actin filaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules. Cytoskeletal crosstalk — the direct and indirect communication between the different components — is crucial for this coordination. Direct communication involves various linker proteins that...
01:27Ethnic Identity within a Larger Culture
Adolescents from ethnic minority backgrounds face a multifaceted journey in forming their identities, shaped by the intersections of cultural expectations and personal exploration. For these adolescents, identity formation involves not only typical developmental challenges but also navigating the perceptions and attitudes of the majority culture. As they grow, adolescents in ethnic minority groups often become increasingly aware of stereotypes, social biases, and discrimination, all of which...