Genetic studies on Sinhalese

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The hypothesized migration routes of the ancestors of the Sinhalese and other ethnic groups into Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan migration.png
The hypothesized migration routes of the ancestors of the Sinhalese and other ethnic groups into Sri Lanka.

Genetic studies on the Sinhalese is part of population genetics investigating the origins of the Sinhalese population.

Contents

All studies agree that there is a significant relationship between the Sinhalese and the Bengalis and South Indian Tamils, and that there is a significant genetic relationship between Sri Lankan Tamils and Sinhalese. This is also supported by a genetic distance study, which showed low differences in genetic distance between the Sinhalese and the Bengali, Tamil, and Keralite volunteers. [1]

Relationship to Bengalis

Genetic admixture of Sinhalese by Papiha et al. (1996) Genetic admixture of Sinhalese by Papiha.PNG
Genetic admixture of Sinhalese by Papiha et al. (1996)

An Alu polymorphism analysis by Mastana S (2007) using Sinhalese, Tamil, Bengali, Gujarati (Patel), and Punjabi as parental populations found the following proportions of genetic contribution: [2]

Statistical MethodBengaliTamilNorth Western
Point Estimate 57.49%42.5%-
Maximum Likelihood Method 88.07%--
Using Tamil, Bengali and North West as parental population50-66%11-30%20-23%
Parental populationBengaliTamilGujaratiPunjabi
Using Tamil and Bengali as parental population70.03%29.97%-
Using Tamil, Bengali and Gujarati as parental population71.82%16.38%11.82%
Using Bengali, Gujarati and Punjabi as parental population82.09%-15.39%2.52%

Analysis of X chromosome STRs by Perera et al. (2021) found the Sinhalese (as well as Sri Lankan Tamils and Sri Lankan Muslims) to be more closely related to Bengalis, than to the Indian Tamils of Sri Lanka. [3]

Genetic distance analysis by Kirk (1976) found the Sinhalese to be closer to the Bengal than they are to populations in Gujarat or the Panjab. [4]

D1S80 allele frequency (a popular allele for genetic fingerprinting) is also similar between the Sinhalese and Bengalis, suggesting the two groups are closely related. [5]

The Sinhalese also have similar frequencies of the allele MTHFR 677T (13%) to West Bengalis (17%). [6] [7]

Relationship to Indian Tamils

Genetic admixture of Sinhalese by Kshatriya (1995) Genetic admixture of Sinhalese.PNG
Genetic admixture of Sinhalese by Kshatriya (1995)

A genetic admixture study by Kshatriya (1995) found the Sinhalese to have a higher contribution from Indian Tamils (69.86% +/- 0.61), compared with the Bengalis (25.41% +/- 0.51). [8]

Genetic distance analysis by Roychoudhury AK et al. (1985) suggested the Sinhalese are more closely related to South and West Indian populations, than the Bengalis. [9]

Genetic distance analysis by Kirk (1976) suggested the Sinhalese are closer to the Tamils and Keralites of South India, than they are to the populations in Gujarat or the Panjab. [4]

Genetic distance of Sinhalese to neighbouring populations according to Roychoudhury AK et al. (1985) Genetic distance.PNG
Genetic distance of Sinhalese to neighbouring populations according to Roychoudhury AK et al. (1985)

A 2023 study by Singh et al using higher resolution markers than previous studies found that there was higher gene flow from South India to the Sinhalese than from North India, with the Sinhalese sharing the highest Identity by descent with Tamils compared to the other Indian populations studied. The study also found heightened sharing with the Maratha of north western India which was lacking in Tamil and other South Indian populations, consistent with a trace of North Indian affiliation to the Sinhalese population. The total Sinhalese sample size used was 9 individuals. [10]

Relationship to North West Indians

An Alu polymorphism analysis by Mastana S (2007) found a minor North West Indian contribution (20-23%). [11]

Analysis of X chromosome STRs by Perera et al., (2011) showed that the Sinhalese, Sri Lankan Tamil, Moor and Indian Tamils of Sri Lanka, share affinities with the Bhil (an Indigenous group) of North West India. [12]

Relationship to other major ethnic groups in Sri Lanka

A study looking at genetic variation of the FUT2 gene in the Sinhalese and Sri Lankan Tamil population, found similar genetic backgrounds for both ethnic groups, with little genetic flow from other neighbouring Asian population groups. [13] Studies have also found no significant difference with regards to blood group, blood genetic markers (Saha, 1988) and single-nucleotide polymorphism between the Sinhalese and other ethnic groups in Sri Lanka. [14] [15] [16] Another study has also found "no significant genetic variation among the major ethnic groups in Sri Lanka". [17] This is further supported by a study which found very similar frequencies of alleles MTHFR 677T, F2 20210A & F5 1691A in Indian Tamil, Sinhalese, Sri Lankan Tamil, and Sri Lankan Moor populations. [7]

Relationship to other South Asians and West Asians

A 1985 study conducted by Roychoudhury AK and Nei M indicating the values of genetic distance showed that the Sinhalese, along with the four Indian subcontinent populations from Punjab, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Bangladesh, were closer to Afghans and Iranians than the neighboring East/Southeast Asian groups represented by the Bhutanese, Malays, Bataks in northern Sumatra, and the Chinese. [9]

Relationship to East and Southeast Asians

Genetic markers of immunoglobulin among the Sinhalese show high frequencies of afb1b3 which has its origins in the Yunnan and Guangxi provinces of southern China. [18] It is also found at high frequencies among Odias, certain Nepali and Northeast Indian, southern Han Chinese, Southeast Asian and certain Austronesian populations of the Pacific Islands. [18] At a lower frequency, ab3st is also found among the Sinhalese and is generally found at higher frequencies among northern Han Chinese, Tibetan, Mongolian, Korean and Japanese populations. [18] The Transferrin TF*Dchi allele which is common among East Asian and Native American populations is also found among the Sinhalese. [9] HumDN1*4 and HumDN1*5 are the predominant DNase I genes among the Sinhalese and are also the predominant genes among southern Chinese ethnic groups and the Tamang people of Nepal. [19] A 1988 study conducted by N. Saha, showed the high GC*1F and low GC*1S frequencies among the Sinhalese are comparable to those of the Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, Thais, Malays, Vietnamese, Laotians and Tibetans. [20] Hemoglobin E a variant of normal hemoglobin, which originated in and is prevalent among populations in Southeast Asia, is also common among the Sinhalese and can reach up to 40% in Sri Lanka. [21]

Paternal Line

Y-DNA of Sinhalese

The most common Y-chromosome DNA haplogroups found in the Sinhalese are Haplogroup R2, Haplogroup L, Haplogroup R1a and F in that order. [22]

Frequencies of Y chromosome DNA haplogroups in the Sinhalese
Populationn C E F G H I J K L N O P Q R R1 R1a R1b R2 T Others Reference
Sinhalese390010.3%010.3%010.3%018%00000012.8%038.5%0Kivisild2003 [22]

Maternal Line

MtDNA of Sinhalese

Ranweera et al. (2014) found the most common mtDNA haplogroup in the Sinhalese to be Haplogroup M, Haplogroup U (U7a) and Haplogroup R(R30b) and Haplogroup G (G3a1′2). [23] [24]

Haplogroup M represents the dispersal of modern humans around 60.000 years ago along the southern Asian coastline following a southern coastal route across Arabia and India to reach Australia short after. [25]

Haplogroup U7 is considered a West Eurasian–specific mtDNA haplogroup, believed to have originated in the Black Sea area approximately 30,000 years ago. In South Asia, U7 occurs in about 12% in Gujarat, while for the whole of India its frequency stays around 2%, and 5% in Pakistan. In the Vedda people of Sri Lanka it reaches its highest frequency of 13.33% (subclade U7a). It is speculated that large-scale immigration carried these mitochondrial haplogroups into India. [26]

Chaubey states that "considerable number of maternal lineages of Sri Lanka is shared with India, more precisely with southern part of India." [27]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sinhalese people</span> Native ethnic group of Sri Lanka

The Sinhalese people, also known as the Sinhalese are an Indo-Aryan ethno-linguistic group native to the island of Sri Lanka. Historically, they were known as the Sinhala or the Lion People. They are the largest ethnic group in Sri Lanka, constituting about 75% of the Sri Lankan population and number more than 15.2 million.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vedda</span> Indigenous people in Sri Lanka

The Vedda, or Wanniyalaeto, are a minority indigenous group of people in Sri Lanka who, among other sub-communities such as Coast Veddas, Anuradhapura Veddas and Bintenne Veddas, are accorded indigenous status. The Vedda minority in Sri Lanka may become completely assimilated. Most speak Sinhala instead of their indigenous languages, which are nearing extinction. It has been hypothesized that the Vedda were probably the earliest inhabitants of Sri Lanka and have lived on the island since before the arrival of other ethnic groups in India.

Genetics and archaeogenetics of South Asia is the study of the genetics and archaeogenetics of the ethnic groups of South Asia. It aims at uncovering these groups' genetic histories. The geographic position of the Indian subcontinent makes its biodiversity important for the study of the early dispersal of anatomically modern humans across Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haplogroup J (Y-DNA)</span> Human Y-chromosome DNA haplogroup

Haplogroup J-M304, also known as J, is a human Y-chromosome DNA haplogroup. It is believed to have evolved in Western Asia. The clade spread from there during the Neolithic, primarily into North Africa, the Horn of Africa, the Socotra Archipelago, the Caucasus, Europe, Anatolia, Central Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haplogroup F-M89</span> Human Y chromosome DNA grouping indicating common ancestry

Haplogroup F, also known as F-M89 and previously as Haplogroup FT, is a very common Y-chromosome haplogroup. The clade and its subclades constitute over 90% of paternal lineages outside of Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haplogroup H (Y-DNA)</span> Human Y-chromosome DNA haplogroup

Haplogroup H (Y-DNA), also known as H-L901/M2939, is a Y-chromosome haplogroup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haplogroup Q-M242</span> Human Y chromosome DNA grouping common among Native Americans

Haplogroup Q or Q-M242 is a Y-chromosome DNA haplogroup. It has one primary subclade, Haplogroup Q1 (L232/S432), which includes numerous subclades that have been sampled and identified in males among modern populations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human Y-chromosome DNA haplogroup</span> Human DNA groupings

In human genetics, a human Y-chromosome DNA haplogroup is a haplogroup defined by mutations in the non-recombining portions of DNA from the male-specific Y chromosome. Many people within a haplogroup share similar numbers of short tandem repeats (STRs) and types of mutations called single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).

Haplogroup R, or R-M207, is a Y-chromosome DNA haplogroup. It is both numerous and widespread amongst modern populations.

Haplogroup R2a, or haplogroup R-M124, is a Y-chromosome haplogroup characterized by genetic markers M124, P249, P267, L266, and is mainly found in South Asia as well as in Central Asia, Caucasus, Southwest Asia, and the Arab countries with low frequencies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sri Lankan Moors</span> Muslim ethnic minority in Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan Moors are an ethnic minority group in Sri Lanka, comprising 9.3% of the country's total population. Most of them are native speakers of the Tamil language. The majority of Moors who are not native to the North and East also speak Sinhalese as a second language. They are predominantly followers of Islam. The Sri Lankan Muslim community is mostly divided between Sri Lankan Moors, Indian Moors, Sri Lankan Malays and Sri Lankan Bohras. These groups are differentiated by lineage, language, history, culture and traditions. Finlay McDonald has noted in the second paragraph of his article on Sri Lankan Muslims in New Zealand's conversation newspaper, published on April 23, 2019, the following observation, "Linguistically, most have Tamil as their mother tongue, often leading them to be categorised as part of the island’s Tamil minority, alongside Hindus and Christians. There are, however,Muslims who speak the majority Sinhala language."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haplogroup T-M184</span> Human Y-chromosome DNA haplogroup

Haplogroup T-M184, also known as Haplogroup T, is a human Y-chromosome DNA haplogroup. The unique-event polymorphism that defines this clade is the single-nucleotide polymorphism known as M184.

Y-DNA haplogroups in populations of South Asia are haplogroups of the male Y-chromosome found in South Asian populations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Y-DNA haplogroups in populations of East and Southeast Asia</span>

The tables below provide statistics on the human Y-chromosome DNA haplogroups most commonly found among ethnolinguistic groups and populations from East and South-East Asia.

Although Sri Lankan Tamils are culturally and linguistically distinct, genetic studies indicate that they are closely related to other ethnic groups in the island while being related to the Indian Tamils from South India and Bengalis from the East India as well. There are various studies that indicate varying degrees of connections between Sri Lankan Tamils, Sinhalese and Indian ethnic groups.

In human mitochondrial genetics, haplogroup M18 is a human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroup. It is an India-specific lineage.

Genetic studies on Serbs show close affinity to other neighboring South Slavs.

The study of the genetics and archaeogenetics of the Gujarati people of India aims at uncovering these people's genetic history. According to the 1000 Genomes Project, "Gujarati" is a general term used to describe people who trace their ancestry to the region of Gujarat, located in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent, and who speak the Gujarati language, an Indo-European language. They have some genetic commonalities as well as differences with other ethnic groups of India.

Haplogroup D-M55 (M64.1/Page44.1) also known as Haplogroup D1a2a is a Y-chromosome haplogroup. It is one of two branches of Haplogroup D1a. The other is D1a1, which is found with high frequency in Tibetans and other Tibeto-Burmese populations and geographical close groups. D is also distributed with low to medium frequency in Central Asia, East Asia, and Mainland Southeast Asia.

Listed here are notable groups and populations from South Asia by human mitochondrial DNA haplogroups based on relevant studies. The samples are taken from individuals identified with linguistic designations, the third column gives the sample size studied, and the other columns give the percentage of the particular haplogroup. The two most widespread MtDNA haplogroups in South Asia are Haplogroup M and Haplogroup U.

References

  1. ↑ Kirk, R. L. (July 1976). "The legend of Prince Vijaya — a study of Sinhalese origins". American Journal of Physical Anthropology. 45 (1): 91–99. doi:10.1002/ajpa.1330450112.
  2. ↑ Mastana S (2007). "Molecular anthropology: population and forensic genetic applications" (PDF). Anthropologist Special. 3: 373–383.
  3. ↑ Perera, N., Galhena, G. and Ranawaka, G., 2021. X-chromosomal STR based genetic polymorphisms and demographic history of Sri Lankan ethnicities and their relationship with global populations. Scientific reports, 11(1), pp.1-12.
  4. 1 2 Kirk RL (July 1976). "The legend of Prince Vijaya – a study of Sinhalese origins". American Journal of Physical Anthropology. 45 (1): 91–99. doi:10.1002/ajpa.1330450112.
  5. ↑ Surinder Singh Papiha (1999). Genomic Diversity: Applications in Human Population Genetics. London: Springer. 7.
  6. ↑ Mukhopadhyay K, Dutta S, Das Bhomik A (January 2007). "MTHFR gene polymorphisms analyzed in population from Kolkata, West Bengal". Indian Journal of Human Genetics. 13 (1): 38. doi: 10.4103/0971-6866.32035 . PMC   3168154 . PMID   21957342.
  7. 1 2 Dissanayake VH, Weerasekera LY, Gammulla CG, Jayasekara RW (October 2009). "Prevalence of genetic thrombophilic polymorphisms in the Sri Lankan population--implications for association study design and clinical genetic testing services". Experimental and Molecular Pathology. 87 (2): 159–62. doi:10.1016/j.yexmp.2009.07.002. PMID   19591822.
  8. ↑ Kshatriya GK (December 1995). "Genetic affinities of Sri Lankan populations". Human Biology. 67 (6). American Association of Anthropological Genetics: 843–66. PMID   8543296.
  9. 1 2 3 Roychoudhury, Arun K.; Nei, Masatoshi (2 September 2008). "Genetic Relationships between Indians and Their Neighboring Populations". Human Heredity. 35 (4): 201–206. doi:10.1159/000153545. ISSN   0001-5652.
  10. ↑ Prajjval Pratap Singh, Sachin Kumar, Nagarjuna Pasupuleti, Niraj Rai, Gyaneshwer Chaubey, R. Ranasinghe, "Reconstructing the population history of Sinhalese, the major ethnic group in Śrī Laṅkā," iScience, August 31, 2023, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2023.107797.
  11. ↑ Mastana S (2007). "Molecular anthropology: population and forensic genetic applications" (PDF). Anthropologist Special. 3: 373–383.
  12. ↑ Perera, N., Galhena, G. and Ranawaka, G., 2021. X-chromosomal STR based genetic polymorphisms and demographic history of Sri Lankan ethnicities and their relationship with global populations. Scientific reports, 11(1), pp.1-12.
  13. ↑ Soejima M, Koda Y (December 2005). "Denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography-based genotyping and genetic variation of FUT2 in Sri Lanka". Transfusion. 45 (12): 1934–9. doi:10.1111/j.1537-2995.2005.00651.x. PMID   16371047. S2CID   10401001.
  14. ↑ Saha N (1988). "Blood genetic markers in Sri Lankan populations--reappraisal of the legend of Prince Vijaya". American Journal of Physical Anthropology. 76 (2): 217–25. doi:10.1002/ajpa.1330760210. PMID   3166342.
  15. ↑ Roberts DF, Creen CK, Abeyaratne KP (1972). "Blood Groups of the Sinhalese". Man. 7 (1): 122–127. doi:10.2307/2799860. JSTOR   2799860.
  16. ↑ Dissanayake VH, Giles V, Jayasekara RW, Seneviratne HR, Kalsheker N, Broughton Pipkin F, Morgan L (April 2009). "A study of three candidate genes for pre-eclampsia in a Sinhalese population from Sri Lanka". The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research. 35 (2): 234–42. doi: 10.1111/j.1447-0756.2008.00926.x . PMID   19708171. S2CID   24958292.
  17. ↑ Illeperuma RJ, Mohotti SN, De Silva TM, Fernandopulle ND, Ratnasooriya WD (June 2009). "Genetic profile of 11 autosomal STR loci among the four major ethnic groups in Sri Lanka". Forensic Science International. Genetics. 3 (3): e105-6. doi:10.1016/j.fsigen.2008.10.002. PMID   19414153.
  18. 1 2 3 Matsumoto H (2009). "The origin of the Japanese race based on genetic markers of immunoglobulin G". Proceedings of the Japan Academy. Series B, Physical and Biological Sciences. 85 (2): 69–82. Bibcode:2009PJAB...85...69M. doi:10.2183/pjab.85.69. PMC   3524296 . PMID   19212099.
  19. ↑ Fujihara J, Yasuda T, Iida R, Ueki M, Sano R, Kominato Y, et al. (July 2015). "Global analysis of genetic variations in a 56-bp variable number of tandem repeat polymorphisms within the human deoxyribonuclease I gene". Legal Medicine. 17 (4): 283–6. doi:10.1016/j.legalmed.2015.01.005. PMID   25771153.
  20. ↑ Malhotra R (1992). Anthropology of Development: Commemoration Volume in the Honour of Professor I.P. Singh. Mittal Publications. ISBN   978-81-7099-328-5.[ page needed ]
  21. ↑ Kumar D (2012). Genetic Disorders of the Indian Subcontinent. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN   978-1-4020-2231-9.[ page needed ]
  22. 1 2 Kivisild T, Rootsi S, Metspalu M, Mastana S, Kaldma K, Parik J, et al. (February 2003). "The genetic heritage of the earliest settlers persists both in Indian tribal and caste populations". American Journal of Human Genetics. 72 (2): 313–332. doi:10.1086/346068. PMC   379225 . PMID   12536373.
  23. ↑ Ranaweera, Lanka; Kaewsutthi, Supannee; Win Tun, Aung; Boonyarit, Hathaichanoke; Poolsuwan, Samerchai; Lertrit, Patcharee (January 2014). "Mitochondrial DNA history of Sri Lankan ethnic people: their relations within the island and with the Indian subcontinental populations". Journal of Human Genetics. 59 (1): 28–36. doi: 10.1038/jhg.2013.112 . PMID   24196378.
  24. ↑ Ranasinghe, Ruwandi; Tennekoon, Kamani H.; Karunanayake, Eric H.; Lembring, Maria; Allen, Marie (November 2015). "A study of genetic polymorphisms in mitochondrial DNA hypervariable regions I and II of the five major ethnic groups and Vedda population in Sri Lanka". Legal Medicine. 17 (6): 539–546. doi:10.1016/j.legalmed.2015.05.007. PMID   26065620.
  25. ↑ Marrero, P.; Abu-Amero, K. K.; Larruga, J. M.; Cabrera, V. M. (2016). "Carriers of human mitochondrial DNA macrohaplogroup M colonized India from southeastern Asia". BMC Evolutionary Biology. 16 (1): 246. doi: 10.1186/s12862-016-0816-8 . PMC   5105315 . PMID   27832758.
  26. ↑ Metspalu M, Kivisild T, Metspalu E, Parik J, Hudjashov G, Kaldma K, et al. (August 2004). "Most of the extant mtDNA boundaries in south and southwest Asia were likely shaped during the initial settlement of Eurasia by anatomically modern humans". BMC Genetics. 5: 26. doi: 10.1186/1471-2156-5-26 . PMC   516768 . PMID   15339343.
  27. ↑ Chaubey, G. Language isolates and their genetic identity: a commentary on mitochondrial DNA history of Sri Lankan ethnic people: their relations within the island and with the Indian subcontinental populations. J Hum Genet 59, 61–63 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/jhg.2013.122
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