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Exploring Cuba's population structure and demographic history using genome-wide data.
Cesar Fortes-Lima1, Jonas Bybjerg-Grauholm2,3, Lilia Caridad Marin-Padrón4
1UMR7206 Eco-Anthropology and Ethno-Biology, CNRS-MNHN-University Paris Diderot, Musée de l'Homme, Paris, 75016, France.
Scientific Reports
|August 1, 2018
Summary
Cuban genetic heritage reveals distinct regional admixture patterns, with Eastern provinces showing higher African and Native American ancestry. Sex-specific patterns indicate European male and African/Native American female contributions.
Area of Science:
- Population Genetics
- Human Ancestry
- Caribbean Genomics
Background:
- Cuba possesses a rich and genetically diverse heritage.
- Understanding the population structure is key to interpreting genetic variations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To reconstruct the genetic structure and ancestral origins of the Cuban population.
- To analyze admixture patterns across Cuban provinces.
Main Methods:
- Utilized dense genomic data from 860 Cuban individuals.
- Performed subcontinental ancestry analyses to identify source populations.
Main Results:
- Identified distinct admixture patterns between and within Cuban provinces.
- Eastern provinces exhibit higher African (26%) and Native American (10%) ancestry compared to other regions (17% and 5%).
- Observed sex-specific admixture biased towards European male and African/Native American female ancestries in Eastern Cuba.
Conclusions:
- Iberian, South/Mesoamerican, and West Central/Central African populations are the primary ancestral sources.
- Complex admixture involved two migration pulses, with Native American admixture early in the colonial period and African admixture during the slave trade and later Haitian migrations.