The Tibetan-Yi region is both a corridor and a barrier for human gene flow

Zhe Zhang; Yanlin Zhang; Yinan Wang; Zicheng Zhao; Melinda Yang; Lin Zhang; Bin Zhou; Bingying Xu; Hongbo Zhang; Teng Chen; Wenkui Dai; Yong Zhou; Shuo Shi; Rasmus Nielsen; Shuai Cheng Li; Shengbin Li

doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110720

The Tibetan-Yi region is both a corridor and a barrier for human gene flow

Cell Rep. 2022 Apr 26;39(4):110720. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110720.

Authors

Zhe Zhang¹, Yanlin Zhang², Yinan Wang³, Zicheng Zhao², Melinda Yang⁴, Lin Zhang⁵, Bin Zhou⁵, Bingying Xu⁶, Hongbo Zhang³, Teng Chen³, Wenkui Dai⁷, Yong Zhou⁷, Shuo Shi⁸, Rasmus Nielsen⁹, Shuai Cheng Li¹⁰, Shengbin Li¹¹

Affiliations

¹ Bio-evidence Sciences Academy, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061 Shaanxi, P.R. China; Department of Cardiology, Zhuhai People's Hospital (Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan University), Zhuhai, Guangdong, P.R. China.
² Shenzhen Byoryn Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China.
³ Bio-evidence Sciences Academy, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061 Shaanxi, P.R. China.
⁴ Department of Biology, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA 23173, USA.
⁵ West China School of Basic Medicine Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, Sichuan, P.R. China.
⁶ School of Forensic Medicine, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, Yunnan, P.R. China.
⁷ Department of Computer Science, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon 999077, Hong Kong.
⁸ Department of History, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, Sichuan, P.R. China.
⁹ Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-3140, USA. Electronic address: rasmus_nielsen@berkeley.edu.
¹⁰ Department of Computer Science, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon 999077, Hong Kong. Electronic address: shuaicli@cityu.edu.hk.
¹¹ Bio-evidence Sciences Academy, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061 Shaanxi, P.R. China. Electronic address: shengbinlee@mail.xjtu.edu.cn.

PMID: 35476999
DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110720

Abstract

The Tibetan-Yi Corridor (TYC) region between Tibet and the rest of east Asia has served as a crossroads for human migrations for thousands of years. The lack of whole-genome sequencing data specific to the TYC populations has hindered the understanding of the fundamental patterns of migration and divergence between humans in east Asia and southeast Asia. Here, we provide 248 individual whole genomes from the 16 TYC and 3 outgroup populations to elucidate historical relationships. We find that the Tibetan plateau forms an important barrier to gene flow, with a more Tibetan-like ancestry in northern populations and a southern east Asian-related ancestry in south populations. An isolated population, Achang, shows a prolonged isolation and genetic drift compared to other TYC populations. We also note that previous claims regarding the history and structure of TYC populations inferred by linguistics are incompatible with the genetic evidence.

Keywords: CP: Molecular biology; Tibetan-Yi corridor; geographic patterns; human migration; population genetics.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Asian People / genetics
Ethnicity
Gene Flow*
Genetics, Population*
Humans
Tibet