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Indian Siddis: African descendants with Indian admixture
Anish M Shah1, Rakesh Tamang, Priya Moorjani
1Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Hyderabad, India.
American Journal of Human Genetics
|July 12, 2011
Summary
The Siddis, an Afro-Indian population, have African, Indian, and European ancestry. Genetic analysis reveals their origins trace back to Bantu speakers from sub-Saharan Africa, with admixture occurring approximately 200 years ago.
Area of Science:
- Population Genetics
- Human Ancestry Studies
Background:
- The Siddis are an Afro-Indian tribal population residing in coastal regions of India.
- Historical accounts suggest their arrival in India was facilitated by the Portuguese, who brought them from Africa 300-500 years ago.
- Precise ancestral origins of the Siddis remain largely uncharacterized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the population history and ancestral origins of the Siddis using genome-wide data.
- To elucidate the genetic admixture patterns within the Siddi population.
Main Methods:
- Genome-wide survey utilizing hundreds of thousands of autosomal markers.
- Analysis of uniparental markers, including Y-chromosomal and mitochondrial DNA.
Main Results:
- Genetic analysis confirmed the Siddis possess a mixed ancestry, including African, Indian, and potentially European (Portuguese) components.
- Uniparental marker analyses indicated that the Siddis' ancestry traces back to Bantu speakers from sub-Saharan Africa.
- Admixture between the African ancestors of the Siddis and South Asian populations is estimated to have occurred within the last eight generations (approximately 200 years ago).
Conclusions:
- The study provides a comprehensive genetic understanding of Siddi population history.
- Findings align with historical records regarding the Siddis' African origins and their admixture in India.
- The research highlights the utility of genomic data in tracing complex population movements and admixture events.
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