Anthropology Histories of Selected New World Populations Based on Nuclear DNA Polymorphisms

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The primary objective of this research is to conduct a pilot investigation of the insertional polymorphism of Alu sequences in New World human populations. Previous research in the investigators' laboratory has shown that most nuclear RFLPs are polymorphic in many human populations. Here, the investigators will analyze the utility of a second type of polymorphism as a tool for reconstructing the history of human populations. Because of the wealth of knowledge regarding relationships between Native American populations and the availability of samples, the system will be tested on this group. Alu sequences constitute a family of related sequences scattered throughout the nuclear genome which are capable of moving within the genome. As it is essentially impossible for a sequence to insert in exactly the same position through independent mutations, finding identical Alu sequences insertions is presumptive evidence of common descent. The investigators will test the utility of these polymorphisms as genetic markers. Additionally, the researchers will investigate the antiquity of specific Alu polymorphisms by comparison with samples from other human populations.