Investigating the paternal genetic structure and migration history of Chinese Qiang minority by Y-chromosome short tandem repeats

Known for its legendary history and peculiar culture, Chinese Qiang minority aroused interest among geneticists and anthropologists. However, the paternal genetic landscape of its sub-branches coupled with its migration history has never been uncovered. In this study, 37 Y-chromosomal short tandem r...

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Main Authors: Guang-Yao Fan, Ying Zhu, En-Na Wang, Tian-Ge Ju
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Royal Society 2025-05-01
Series:Royal Society Open Science
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Online Access:https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.242046
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author Guang-Yao Fan
Ying Zhu
En-Na Wang
Tian-Ge Ju
author_facet Guang-Yao Fan
Ying Zhu
En-Na Wang
Tian-Ge Ju
author_sort Guang-Yao Fan
collection DOAJ
description Known for its legendary history and peculiar culture, Chinese Qiang minority aroused interest among geneticists and anthropologists. However, the paternal genetic landscape of its sub-branches coupled with its migration history has never been uncovered. In this study, 37 Y-chromosomal short tandem repeat (Y-STR) loci of three Qiang ethnic groups (N = 564) were investigated to shed light on their paternal genetic landscape. The phylogenetic reconstruction among 29 populations was conducted based on their Y-chromosomal haplotypes. The genetic affinities of the four different Qiang subgroups exhibited obviously variant when compared with Han, Yi or Tibetan in Tibetan-Yi corridor. Based on machine learning method, the predicted Y chromosome haplogroups demonstrated the predominance of O2a1 and O2a2. The haplogroup distributions were compared among 40 contemporary ethnic groups in West China and DNA samples of 214 ancient humans from 59 archaeological sites. The results supported that Wenchuan Qiang had historical links with the ancients in West Liao River (WLR) region. Moreover, intrapopulation gene flow was analysed using Migrate-n. Bidirectional migration was proved to be the most frequent model among the Qiangic populations while the unidirectional migration was only observed from Wenchuan to Li County.
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spelling doaj-art-8d184005f9e34abd8b91e430e844a0c82025-08-20T03:08:17ZengThe Royal SocietyRoyal Society Open Science2054-57032025-05-0112510.1098/rsos.242046Investigating the paternal genetic structure and migration history of Chinese Qiang minority by Y-chromosome short tandem repeatsGuang-Yao Fan0Ying Zhu1En-Na Wang2Tian-Ge Ju3School of Medicine, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of ChinaSchool of Life and Environmental Sciences, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of ChinaSchool of Life and Environmental Sciences, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of ChinaSchool of Life and Environmental Sciences, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of ChinaKnown for its legendary history and peculiar culture, Chinese Qiang minority aroused interest among geneticists and anthropologists. However, the paternal genetic landscape of its sub-branches coupled with its migration history has never been uncovered. In this study, 37 Y-chromosomal short tandem repeat (Y-STR) loci of three Qiang ethnic groups (N = 564) were investigated to shed light on their paternal genetic landscape. The phylogenetic reconstruction among 29 populations was conducted based on their Y-chromosomal haplotypes. The genetic affinities of the four different Qiang subgroups exhibited obviously variant when compared with Han, Yi or Tibetan in Tibetan-Yi corridor. Based on machine learning method, the predicted Y chromosome haplogroups demonstrated the predominance of O2a1 and O2a2. The haplogroup distributions were compared among 40 contemporary ethnic groups in West China and DNA samples of 214 ancient humans from 59 archaeological sites. The results supported that Wenchuan Qiang had historical links with the ancients in West Liao River (WLR) region. Moreover, intrapopulation gene flow was analysed using Migrate-n. Bidirectional migration was proved to be the most frequent model among the Qiangic populations while the unidirectional migration was only observed from Wenchuan to Li County.https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.242046Y-chromosomal short tandem repeatspatrilineal historygenetic structureQiang minoritymachine learning
spellingShingle Guang-Yao Fan
Ying Zhu
En-Na Wang
Tian-Ge Ju
Investigating the paternal genetic structure and migration history of Chinese Qiang minority by Y-chromosome short tandem repeats
Royal Society Open Science
Y-chromosomal short tandem repeats
patrilineal history
genetic structure
Qiang minority
machine learning
title Investigating the paternal genetic structure and migration history of Chinese Qiang minority by Y-chromosome short tandem repeats
title_full Investigating the paternal genetic structure and migration history of Chinese Qiang minority by Y-chromosome short tandem repeats
title_fullStr Investigating the paternal genetic structure and migration history of Chinese Qiang minority by Y-chromosome short tandem repeats
title_full_unstemmed Investigating the paternal genetic structure and migration history of Chinese Qiang minority by Y-chromosome short tandem repeats
title_short Investigating the paternal genetic structure and migration history of Chinese Qiang minority by Y-chromosome short tandem repeats
title_sort investigating the paternal genetic structure and migration history of chinese qiang minority by y chromosome short tandem repeats
topic Y-chromosomal short tandem repeats
patrilineal history
genetic structure
Qiang minority
machine learning
url https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.242046
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