Mitochondrial DNA polymorphisms in Negroid populations from Namibia: new light on the origins of the Dama, Herero and Ambo

Abstract

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) polymorphisms were investigated in the Herero, Dama and Ambo Negroid groups from Namibia, using the restriction enzymes HpaI, BamHI, HaeII, MspI, AvaII and HincII. Although the Dama presently speak a Hottentot language, Nama, their mtDNA pool closely resembles that found in the Herero who are western-Bantu speakers, suggesting that these groups may be derived from the same female ancestor. Both the Dama and the Herero have a high frequency of mtDNA type 21-2 (2-1-1-1-2-2), found at frequencies of 32.6% and 50.0%, respectively, compared to 4.5% in the Ambo. In addition, the 'Negroid-like' types 2-2 (3-1-1-1-3-2) and 7-2 (3-1-1-1-1-2), found at frequencies of 13.5% and 54.5%, respectively, in the Ambo, are rarely found in the Dama and Herero. This suggests that the Ambo have different origins from the Herero and Dama; they appear to be more closely related to southeastern Bantu-speakers than to southwestern Bantu-speakers.