March 25, 2004
Origin of the Ainu
A quick note on this paper: haplogroup D is a phylogenetic sibling of haplogroup E of Western Eurafrasia. The ancestral haplogroup DE is defined by the YAP+ Alu insertion. Haplogroup D is not however found anywhere in East Asia except in Japan and Okinawa and may represent an important link between the West and the East before the expansion of the Mongoloids.
J Hum Genet. 2004 Mar 2 [Epub ahead of print] Related Articles, Links
Genetic origins of the Ainu inferred from combined DNA analyses of maternal and paternal lineages.
Tajima A et al.
The Ainu, a minority ethnic group from the northernmost island of Japan, was investigated for DNA polymorphisms both from maternal (mitochondrial DNA) and paternal (Y chromosome) lineages extensively. Other Asian populations inhabiting North, East, and Southeast Asia were also examined for detailed phylogeographic analyses at the mtDNA sequence type as well as Y-haplogroup levels. The maternal and paternal gene pools of the Ainu contained 25 mtDNA sequence types and three Y-haplogroups, respectively. Eleven of the 25 mtDNA sequence types were unique to the Ainu and accounted for over 50% of the population, whereas 14 were widely distributed among other Asian populations. Of the 14 shared types, the most frequently shared type was found in common among the Ainu, Nivkhi in northern Sakhalin, and Koryaks in the Kamchatka Peninsula. Moreover, analysis of genetic distances calculated from the mtDNA data revealed that the Ainu seemed to be related to both the Nivkhi and other Japanese populations (such as mainland Japanese and Okinawans) at the population level. On the paternal side, the vast majority (87.5%) of the Ainu exhibited the Asian-specific YAP+ lineages (Y-haplogroups D-M55* and D-M125), which were distributed only in the Japanese Archipelago in this analysis. On the other hand, the Ainu exhibited no other Y-haplogroups (C-M8, O-M175*, and O-M122*) common in mainland Japanese and Okinawans. It is noteworthy that the rest of the Ainu gene pool was occupied by the paternal lineage (Y-haplogroup C-M217*) from North Asia including Sakhalin. Thus, the present findings suggest that the Ainu retain a certain degree of their own genetic uniqueness, while having higher genetic affinities with other regional populations in Japan and the Nivkhi among Asian populations.
Posted by Dienekes at March 25, 2004 03:20 PM | PermaLinkHaplogroup D has been found at 41 % in Tibetans ( Human Genetics, 106: 453-454), far to the West , to 30% in the Tao Jinxin( AJGH, 65: 1718-1724), bordering Vietnam. It reaches a frequency of 72.3 % among the Primi of China. These populations are typologically Mongoloid. It’s also found scattered in SE Asia. I believe they represent a genealogically Mongoloid population which didn’t develop the stereotypical mongoloid morphology, and then remained isolated from other populations.
It’s dangerous to attempt to force populations to confirm to “true” types. Genetic clustering studies always group the Ainu with other Mongoloids. Atypical Mongoloid morphology also occurs in Southeast Asia and Oceania as well as in North Amerindians. t and the East before the expansion of the Mongoloids.”
Thanks for the info, I'd forgotten that D is also found in Tibet.
>> I believe they represent a genealogically Mongoloid population which didn’t develop the stereotypical mongoloid morphology, and then remained isolated from other populations.
Well, the Mongoloid race is not really a monophyletic taxon, so I don't quite understand what you mean by 'genealogically Mongoloid'. Mongoloid is a trait complex, which is very unlikely to have originated in a D-bearing population.
Posted by: Dienekes at March 26, 2004 01:26 AMDo you know that Tibetans believe that Monkey is their ancestor?
I belive Ainu was described as either Monkey or Bear in Asia.
The reason is that they have lots of hair while majority of Aian people have less hair.
I belive that Ainu contributed significantly to eastern Asia history.
The first emperor of China has a last name 'bear'.
Korean's ancient Kingdom Koguryo is basically called 'Maek' race, and Maek is some kind of bear.
There are lots of bear related ancient names throughout the whole Korea.