[OR_Archaeology] PSU Archaeology Presentation Thursday May 7

[Susan White]

Archaeology Presentation at PSU

Brian Kemp (Washington State University)

Modern and Ancient Genetic Variation in the Americas

When and Where: Thursday, May 7, 4 o'clock, Cramer 41

A number of recent whole mitochondrial genome studies and studies of  nuclear DNA support the Beringian Incubation Model as the best  description of the demographic history of the population that would  first enter the Americas approximately 15,000-20,000 YBP, having originating from a single source population located somewhere in Asia.  
 
Human presence in the Americas by at least 14,00-14,270 YBP has been confirmed by archaeological evidence from the Monte Verde site in  southern Chile and the recovery of human coprolites in Paisley Caves  in southern Oregon.  A secondary migration or expansion of humans,  perhaps from the same source population, introduced additional mtDNA  haplogroups into the northernmost areas of North America after the last glacial maximum.  From the initial entrance of humans into Americas, genetic drift has played a substantial role in shaping the Native American gene pool.  On a continental scale, Native Americans  exhibit simultaneously the highest measure of homozygosity and interpopulational genetic distances.  Genetic variation thus far detected in human remains and human byproducts (e.g. coprolites) that predate 5,000 YBP are consistent with this view, notwithstanding the small sample sizes.

Thanks! See you Thursday!

Kristen Fuld

Questions, comments, want to be removed from the list?  Contact  Kristen Fuld at fuldk at pdx.edu