Y chromosome diversity in Aztlan descendants and its implications for the history of Central Mexico

Abstract

Native Mexican populations are crucial for understanding the genetic ancestry of Aztec descendants and coexisting ethnolinguistic groups in the Valley of Mexico and elucidating the population dynamics of the prehistoric colonization of the Americas. Mesoamerican societies were multicultural in nature and also experienced significant admixture during Spanish colonization of the region. Despite these facts, Native Mexican Y chromosome diversity has been greatly understudied. To further elucidate their genetic history, we conducted a high-resolution Y chromosome analysis with Chichimecas, Nahuas, Otomies, Popolocas, Tepehuas, and Totonacas using 19 Y-short tandem repeat and 21 single nucleotide polymorphism loci. We detected enormous paternal genetic diversity in these groups, with haplogroups Q-MEH2, Q-M3, Q-Z768, Q-L663, Q-Z780, and Q-PV3 being identified. These data affirmed the southward colonization of the Americas via Beringia and connected Native Mexicans with indigenous populations from South-Central Siberia and Canada. They also suggested that multiple population dispersals gave rise to Y chromosome diversity in these populations.

Keywords: Biological sciences; Evolutionary biology; Evolutionary history; Genetics; Genotyping.

Graphical abstract

Figure 1

A phylogenetic tree of haplogroup Q The haplogroup nomenclature follows the Y-chromosome Consortium (2002), Karafet et al., (2008) and International Society of Genetic Genealogy (2019–2020) recommendations. Note: The number of individuals belonging to each haplogroup in Native Mexican populations is shown on the right side in the table. The blue, green, and purple colors show the haplogroups found in the present study; the yellow color indicates the Q-F1096 sublineage within Q-MEH2. The dotted line indicates continuity of haplotypes within a specific lineage that cannot be fully represented here due to space constraints.

Figure 2

Multidimensional scale plot of R_st values estimated from 17 Y-STRs haplotypes among Central Valley of Mexico Native Americans belonging to haplogroup Q (A) With linguistic affiliation as criterion. (B) With ethnicity as criterion. The dotted circles enclose populations that share no significant genetic distances. Note: HGO, Hidalgo; GTO, Guanajuato; MOR, Morelos; PUE, Puebla; QRO, Querétaro; SLP, San Luis Potosí; VER, Veracruz. Oto-Manguean: Éza'r (Chichimecas); Hñähñús (from HGO, GTO, and QRO) and Popolocas; Totonacas-Tepehuas: Tepehuas and Tononacas from PUE and VER; Uto-Aztecans: Nahuas from HGO, MOR, and SLP. All p values were adjusted with the method of false discovery rates in R-software.

Figure 3

Multidimensional scale plot of R_st values (A) Estimated from 14 Y-STRs haplotypes belonging to haplogroup R1b. (B) Estimated from 7 Y-STRs and comparing the Hñähñú populations from Hidalgo state by sampling zone. Note: The comparative data were taken from Barrot et al. (2007); Martinez-Cadenas et al. (2016); Martinez-Gonzalez et al. (2012); Myres et al. (2011); and Santana et al. (2014). Although Hñähñú is the name by which the Otomi now self-identify, we use the older name provided by the original authors (Barrot et al., 2007). The red diamonds show the data from the present study.

Figure 4

A median-joining network of Q1a (Q-MEH2) lineage using 7 Y-STRs Comparative data from Regueiro et al. (2013) and Schurr et al. (2012). Note: The smallest circles represent one individual. NE-Siberia, Northeast Siberia.

Figure 5

Median-joining network of haplogroup Q1b1a1a (Q-M3) based on 17 Y-STRs (A) With the ethnicity as criterion. (B) With the distribution of sublineages Q-Z768 and Q-L663. Note: The circle size indicates the number of individuals with shared haplotypes; the smallest circles represent one individual.

Figure 6

A median-joining network of Q1b1a2 (Q-Z780) and Q1b1a3a1f (Q-PV3) lineages using 17 Y-STRs Note: The dotted line shows the carriers of PV3 sublineage.

Figure 7

Frequency of Q-MEH2 lineage and its sublineage Q-F1096 in Asian and Native American populations Note: Data from Battaglia et al. (2013), Bisso-Machado et al. (2011), Karmin et al. (2015)Malyarchuk et al. (2011), Rasmussen et al. (2010), Regueiro et al. (2013), and Schurr et al. (2012). The map was obtained from http://mapswire.com.