Geno-geographic origin of Y-specific STR haplotypes in a sample of Caucasian-Mestizo and African-descent male individuals from Colombia.

INTRODUCTION Y chromosome STR haplotypes have been widely used in population studies to establish the origin of diverse populations. OBJECTIVE We analyzed Y chromosome STR haplotypes (8 loci) in 134 Caucasian-mestizo and 137 African-descent Colombian unrelated individuals to correlate the geographical origin with historical data as well as the genetic relationships and possible admixture patterns. MATERIALS AND METHODS One hundred samples of African descent and 137 Caucasian-mestizo samples analyzed for Y chromosome STR haplotypes by PCR followed by acrylamide electrophoresis. RESULTS No evidence of population substructure was found for the African descent. Two point fifty nine per cent of the haplotypes were shared between the two groups with the possible existence of Caucasian gene flow towards Afro-descendants. CONCLUSION The Caucasian-Mestizo Colombian population is grouped with other populations of the Iberian Peninsula and Europe, while the Afro-Colombian population is grouped with other African populations reported.