Abstract
Analysis of human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variation plays an important role in forensic genetic investigations, especially in degraded biological samples and hair shafts. There are many issues of the mtDNA phylogeny that are of special interest to the forensic community, such as haplogroup classification or the post hoc investigation of potential errors in mtDNA datasets. We have analyzed >2200 mitogenomes of African ancestry with the aim of improving the known worldwide phylogeny. More than 300 new minor subclades were identified, and the Time to the Most Recent Common Ancestor (TMRCA) was estimated for each node of the phylogeny. Phylogeographic details are provided which might also be relevant to forensic genetics. The present study has special interest for forensic investigations because current analysis and interpretation of mtDNA casework rest on a solid worldwide phylogeny, as is evident from the role that phylogeny plays in popular resources in the field (e.g. PhyloTree), software (e.g. Haplogrep 2), and databases (e.g. EMPOP). Apart from this forensic genetic interest, we also highlight the impact of this research in anthropological studies, such as those related to the reconstruction of the transatlantic slave trade.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 156-159 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Forensic Science International: Genetics |
| Volume | 27 |
| Early online date | 31 Dec 2016 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Mar 2017 |
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Updating the African human mitochondrial DNA tree : Relevance to forensic and population genetics. / Heinz, Tanja; Pala, Maria; Gómez-Carballa, Alberto; Richards, Martin B.; Salas, Antonio.
In: Forensic Science International: Genetics, Vol. 27, 01.03.2017, p. 156-159.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Updating the African human mitochondrial DNA tree
T2 - Relevance to forensic and population genetics
AU - Heinz, Tanja
AU - Pala, Maria
AU - Gómez-Carballa, Alberto
AU - Richards, Martin B.
AU - Salas, Antonio
PY - 2017/3/1
Y1 - 2017/3/1
N2 - Analysis of human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variation plays an important role in forensic genetic investigations, especially in degraded biological samples and hair shafts. There are many issues of the mtDNA phylogeny that are of special interest to the forensic community, such as haplogroup classification or the post hoc investigation of potential errors in mtDNA datasets. We have analyzed >2200 mitogenomes of African ancestry with the aim of improving the known worldwide phylogeny. More than 300 new minor subclades were identified, and the Time to the Most Recent Common Ancestor (TMRCA) was estimated for each node of the phylogeny. Phylogeographic details are provided which might also be relevant to forensic genetics. The present study has special interest for forensic investigations because current analysis and interpretation of mtDNA casework rest on a solid worldwide phylogeny, as is evident from the role that phylogeny plays in popular resources in the field (e.g. PhyloTree), software (e.g. Haplogrep 2), and databases (e.g. EMPOP). Apart from this forensic genetic interest, we also highlight the impact of this research in anthropological studies, such as those related to the reconstruction of the transatlantic slave trade.
AB - Analysis of human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variation plays an important role in forensic genetic investigations, especially in degraded biological samples and hair shafts. There are many issues of the mtDNA phylogeny that are of special interest to the forensic community, such as haplogroup classification or the post hoc investigation of potential errors in mtDNA datasets. We have analyzed >2200 mitogenomes of African ancestry with the aim of improving the known worldwide phylogeny. More than 300 new minor subclades were identified, and the Time to the Most Recent Common Ancestor (TMRCA) was estimated for each node of the phylogeny. Phylogeographic details are provided which might also be relevant to forensic genetics. The present study has special interest for forensic investigations because current analysis and interpretation of mtDNA casework rest on a solid worldwide phylogeny, as is evident from the role that phylogeny plays in popular resources in the field (e.g. PhyloTree), software (e.g. Haplogrep 2), and databases (e.g. EMPOP). Apart from this forensic genetic interest, we also highlight the impact of this research in anthropological studies, such as those related to the reconstruction of the transatlantic slave trade.
KW - Africa
KW - America
KW - Ancestry
KW - EMPOP
KW - Haplogrep
KW - Mitochondrial DNA
KW - PhyloTree
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85008965847&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.fsigen.2016.12.016
DO - 10.1016/j.fsigen.2016.12.016
M3 - Article
VL - 27
SP - 156
EP - 159
JO - Forensic Science International: Genetics
JF - Forensic Science International: Genetics
SN - 1872-4973
ER -