Refining the genetic structure and admixture history of Hmong-Mien populations
Abstract Background Recent studies have shed light on the unique linguistic and genetic characteristics of Hmong-Mien speakers. However, the underlying genetic structure and admixture events that shape their genetic diversity remain inadequately elucidated. Results Here, we co-analyzed newly generat...
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BMC
2025-07-01
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| Series: | BMC Biology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12915-025-02287-8 |
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| author | Meiqing Yang Huangzhen Huang Han Zhang Wen Wan Kongyang Zhu Rui Wang Jinxi Li Lu Chen Jiang Huang Chuan-Chao Wang |
| author_facet | Meiqing Yang Huangzhen Huang Han Zhang Wen Wan Kongyang Zhu Rui Wang Jinxi Li Lu Chen Jiang Huang Chuan-Chao Wang |
| author_sort | Meiqing Yang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Recent studies have shed light on the unique linguistic and genetic characteristics of Hmong-Mien speakers. However, the underlying genetic structure and admixture events that shape their genetic diversity remain inadequately elucidated. Results Here, we co-analyzed newly generated genome-wide data from 164 individuals in Guizhou Province with published data from geographically proximate HM speakers using both allele frequency-based and haplotype-based methods. We unveiled fine-scale genetic substructure within HM speakers in southwest China, emphasizing distinct genetic differentiation between the Miao and Yao branches. Notably, Guangxi GaoHuaHua individuals showed close affiliation with the Yao branch, indicating a divergence time predating approximately 500 years ago. Besides, southwestern HM speakers exhibited an admixture pattern of indigenous Hmong and BaikuYao-like ancestry with minor contributions from neighboring populations like Tai-Kadai and Sino-Tibetan speakers in recent history. We finally identified the dominant paternal and diverse maternal lineages of HM speakers, implying a rich genetic tapestry and intricate historical migrations. Conclusions Our study provided new insights into the genetic formation and admixture events that significantly shaped the genomic diversity of present-day HM speakers in southwest China. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bf968fbef0a242f48c7c2e45a72ffbfc |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1741-7007 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Biology |
| spelling | doaj-art-bf968fbef0a242f48c7c2e45a72ffbfc2025-08-20T03:42:00ZengBMCBMC Biology1741-70072025-07-0123111210.1186/s12915-025-02287-8Refining the genetic structure and admixture history of Hmong-Mien populationsMeiqing Yang0Huangzhen Huang1Han Zhang2Wen Wan3Kongyang Zhu4Rui Wang5Jinxi Li6Lu Chen7Jiang Huang8Chuan-Chao Wang9Department of Forensic Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Guizhou Medical UniversityMinistry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, Department of Anthropology and Human Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Fudan UniversityDepartment of Forensic Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Guizhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Forensic Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Guizhou Medical UniversityState Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen UniversityMinistry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, Department of Anthropology and Human Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Fudan UniversityZhangjiang Fudan International Innovation Center, Human Phenome Institute, Fudan UniversityMinistry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, Department of Anthropology and Human Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Fudan UniversityDepartment of Forensic Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Guizhou Medical UniversityMinistry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, Department of Anthropology and Human Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Fudan UniversityAbstract Background Recent studies have shed light on the unique linguistic and genetic characteristics of Hmong-Mien speakers. However, the underlying genetic structure and admixture events that shape their genetic diversity remain inadequately elucidated. Results Here, we co-analyzed newly generated genome-wide data from 164 individuals in Guizhou Province with published data from geographically proximate HM speakers using both allele frequency-based and haplotype-based methods. We unveiled fine-scale genetic substructure within HM speakers in southwest China, emphasizing distinct genetic differentiation between the Miao and Yao branches. Notably, Guangxi GaoHuaHua individuals showed close affiliation with the Yao branch, indicating a divergence time predating approximately 500 years ago. Besides, southwestern HM speakers exhibited an admixture pattern of indigenous Hmong and BaikuYao-like ancestry with minor contributions from neighboring populations like Tai-Kadai and Sino-Tibetan speakers in recent history. We finally identified the dominant paternal and diverse maternal lineages of HM speakers, implying a rich genetic tapestry and intricate historical migrations. Conclusions Our study provided new insights into the genetic formation and admixture events that significantly shaped the genomic diversity of present-day HM speakers in southwest China.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12915-025-02287-8Hmong-MienFine-scaleGenetic structureRecent ancestryGenomic diversityAdmixture |
| spellingShingle | Meiqing Yang Huangzhen Huang Han Zhang Wen Wan Kongyang Zhu Rui Wang Jinxi Li Lu Chen Jiang Huang Chuan-Chao Wang Refining the genetic structure and admixture history of Hmong-Mien populations BMC Biology Hmong-Mien Fine-scale Genetic structure Recent ancestry Genomic diversity Admixture |
| title | Refining the genetic structure and admixture history of Hmong-Mien populations |
| title_full | Refining the genetic structure and admixture history of Hmong-Mien populations |
| title_fullStr | Refining the genetic structure and admixture history of Hmong-Mien populations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Refining the genetic structure and admixture history of Hmong-Mien populations |
| title_short | Refining the genetic structure and admixture history of Hmong-Mien populations |
| title_sort | refining the genetic structure and admixture history of hmong mien populations |
| topic | Hmong-Mien Fine-scale Genetic structure Recent ancestry Genomic diversity Admixture |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12915-025-02287-8 |
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