Analysis of biogeographic ancestry reveals complex genetic histories for indigenous communities of St. Vincent and Trinidad

Torres, JB, Martucci, V, Aldrich, MC, Vilar, MG, MacKinney, T, Tariq, M ORCID: 0000-0002-8239-9339, Gaieski, JB, Hernandez, RB, Browne, ZE, Stevenson, M, Walters, W, Schurr, TG, Adhikarla, S, Adler, CJ, Balanovska, E, Balanovsky, O, Bertranpetit, J ORCID: 0000-0003-0100-0590, Clarke, AC, Comas, D ORCID: 0000-0002-5075-0956, Cooper, A et al (2019) Analysis of biogeographic ancestry reveals complex genetic histories for indigenous communities of St. Vincent and Trinidad. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 169 (3). pp. 482-497. ISSN 2692-7691

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Abstract

Objectives From a genetic perspective, relatively little is known about how mass emigrations of African, European, and Asian peoples beginning in the 16th century affected Indigenous Caribbean populations. Therefore, we explored the impact of serial colonization on the genetic variation of the first Caribbean islanders. Materials and methods Sixty-four members of St. Vincent's Garifuna Community and 36 members of Trinidad's Santa Rosa First People's Community (FPC) of Arima were characterized for mitochondrial DNA and Y-chromosome diversity via direct sequencing and targeted SNP and STR genotyping. A subset of 32 Garifuna and 18 FPC participants were genotyped using the GenoChip 2.0 microarray. The resulting data were used to examine genetic diversity, admixture, and sex biased gene flow in the study communities. Results The Garifuna were most genetically comparable to African descendant populations, whereas the FPC were more similar to admixed American groups. Both communities also exhibited moderate frequencies of Indigenous American matrilines and patrilines. Autosomal SNP analysis indicated modest Indigenous American ancestry in these populations, while both showed varying degrees of African, European, South Asian, and East Asian ancestry, with patterns of sex-biased gene flow differing between the island communities. Discussion These patterns of genetic variation are consistent with historical records of migration, forced, or voluntary, and suggest that different migration events shaped the genetic make-up of each island community. This genomic study is the highest resolution analysis yet conducted with these communities, and provides a fuller understanding of the complex bio-histories of Indigenous Caribbean peoples in the Lesser Antilles.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Benn Torres J, Martucci V,Aldrich MC, et al. Analysis of biogeographic ancestry reveals complex genetic histories for indigenous communities of St.Vincent and Trinidad. Am J Phys Anthropol. 2019;169:482–497. TORRES ET AL . 497 which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.23859. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Anthropology; Evolutionary Biology; admixture; autosomal DNA; Caribbean; mtDNA; Y-chromosome; POPULATION; DIVERSITY; STRATIFICATION; MIGRATION; AFRICAN; SLAVERY; CARIB; LABOR; TOOL; admixture; autosomal DNA; Caribbean; mtDNA; Y-chromosome; Genographic Consortium; Chromosomes, Human, Y; Humans; DNA; DNA, Mitochondrial; Genetics, Population; History, Ancient; History, 15th Century; History, 16th Century; History, 18th Century; History, 19th Century; Adult; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Trinidad and Tobago; Female; Male; Human Migration; Racial Groups; Caribbean; Y-chromosome; admixture; autosomal DNA; mtDNA; Adult; Chromosomes, Human, Y; DNA; DNA, Mitochondrial; Female; Genetics, Population; History, 15th Century; History, 16th Century; History, 18th Century; History, 19th Century; History, Ancient; Human Migration; Humans; Male; Racial Groups; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Trinidad and Tobago; 31 Biological Sciences; 4401 Anthropology; 3105 Genetics; 44 Human Society; Genetics; Human Genome; Biotechnology; Adult; Chromosomes, Human, Y; DNA; DNA, Mitochondrial; Female; Genetics, Population; History, 15th Century; History, 16th Century; History, 18th Century; History, 19th Century; History, Ancient; Human Migration; Humans; Male; Racial Groups; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Trinidad and Tobago; 0603 Evolutionary Biology; 1601 Anthropology; 2101 Archaeology; Anthropology; 3103 Ecology; 4301 Archaeology; 4401 Anthropology
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology
Divisions:	Biological and Environmental Sciences (from Sep 19)
Publisher:	Wiley
Date of acceptance:	13 May 2019
Date of first compliant Open Access:	11 September 2025
Date Deposited:	11 Sep 2025 15:55
Last Modified:	11 Sep 2025 16:00
DOI or ID number:	10.1002/ajpa.23859
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/27144

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