Dissertation Research: The Origins and Affinities of Aboriginal/Australian and Papua New Guinean Populations as Revealed by Mitochondrial, HLA, and Y Chromosome Genetic

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This study will examine the origins and population affinities of the aboriginal populations of Australia and New Guinea by use of three different genetic systems: mitochondrial DNA, human leucocyte antigen genes, and short tandem repeat markers on the Y chromosome. Specific aims of the project include 1) clarification of biological and historical relationships between Australian and New Guinean populations, 2) testing for single or multiple episodes of migration to Sahul (the Pleistocene continent that included Australia, New guinea, and Tasmania), 3) identifying possible sources and routes for the migration into Sahul, and 4) testing the concordance of the three genetic systems in reconstructing population histories. Genetic analyses will involve system specific considerations such as differences in inheritance pattern, effective population size, and mutation rates. Phylogenetic, population subdivision, and demographic expansion analyses of the data from these three genetic systems will provide rich insights into the genetic history of the occupation of Sahul.