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Gene flow and phylogenetic analyses of Dai minority in China using Y-STR genetic markers

anthropology
biogeography
bioinformatics
medical-genetics
population-biology

Abstract

The Dai minority, which is a unique and representative Tai-Kadai-speaking ethnic minority. The branch of Dai people settling in Sichuan Province possesses a mysterious migration history. The origin and evolution of Sichuan Dai as well as the ties of consanguinity between Chinese Dai groups and the other surrounding ethnic minorities in Southeast Asia and South Asia remains unclear. To study the phylogenetic relationship and migration history of Dai, Y-chromosomal haplotypes among 253 Dai males from Sichuan Province were genotyped. Asian-wide published Y-chromosomal haplotype data were used for meta-comparisons. The predominant migration models and directions were inferred by Migrate-n based on coalescence theory. Significant genetic affinities were observed among Yunnan Dai, Sichuan Dai, Yunnan Bai, and Naga people from Nagaland, India. The divergence time between Yunnan Dai and Naga people was estimated approximately at 1,076 years before present using BATWING. The predominant westward migration direction was found for Naga people. The significant southward migration from Sichuan to Yunnan hints at the possible origin of the Dai people. The complex paternal genetic structure among Tai-Kadai-speaking peoples which were revealed in this study will also enrich our understanding of the differentiation of the ancient Baiyue tribes and the patrilineal history in Asia.
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