Fine-Scale Genetic Profile and Admixture History of Two Hmong-Mien–Speaking Miao Tribes from Southwest China Inferred from Genome-wide Data

As the dominant indigenous minority in southern China, Hmong-Mien-speaking Miao people were thought to be descendants of Neolithic Yangtze rice farmers. However, fine-scale population structure and genetic profile populations remain unclear due limited samples from China Southeast Asia. We genotyped 19 individuals two largest tribes Guizhou Province (Southwest China) via SNP chips co-analyzed data with published modern ancient East Asians. The displayed a closer genomic affinity present-day Iron Age Asians (SEAs) than most northern (NEAs). substructure within groups was driven by different levels interaction other ethnolinguistic groups: Hunan (Central harbored higher proportions NEA-related ancestry; Vietnam (mainland Asia) received additional gene flow mainly surrounding Tai-Kadai–related ancestry. There also more complex admixture events newly studied between Xijiang compared Congjiang Miao. qpAdm model further demonstrated that primary ancestry Miao, here, derived SEA-related (represented coastal early SEA Liangdao2), spatiotemporally inland Yellow River farmers), slightly proportions. Our evidence reveals distinct demographic history tribes.