Genetic Structure of Human Populations

Abstract

We studied human population structure using genotypes at 377 autosomal microsatellite loci in 1056 individuals from 52 populations. Within-population differences among individuals account for 93 to 95% of genetic variation; differences among major groups constitute only 3 to 5%. Nevertheless, without using prior information about the origins of individuals, we identified six main genetic clusters, five of which correspond to major geographic regions, and subclusters that often correspond to individual populations. General agreement of genetic and predefined populations suggests that self-reported ancestry can facilitate assessments of epidemiological risks but does not obviate the need to use genetic information in genetic association studies.

Keywords

BiologyMicrosatelliteEvolutionary biologyHuman genetic variationPopulationGenetic variationGenetic structureGenetic dataGenetic epidemiologyGeneticsGenotypeDemographyAlleleHuman genomeGeneGenome

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Publication Info

Year: 2002
Type: article
Volume: 298
Issue: 5602
Pages: 2381-2385
Citations: 3011
Access: Closed

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APA Style

                            
                                
                                    Noah A. Rosenberg, 
                                
                                    Jonathan K. Pritchard, 
                                
                                    James L. Weber
                                
                                et al.
                            
                            (2002). 
                            Genetic Structure of Human Populations. 
                            Science
                            , 298
                            (5602)
                            , 2381-2385.
                            https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1078311
                        

Identifiers

DOI: 10.1126/science.1078311