Y-chromosome and mitochondrial DNA phylogeny of Poliyar, Malaikuravar and Palliyar Tribes of Tamilnadu, India

Abstract

The objective of the project was to study the inter genetic diversity within and between Poliyar, Malaikuravar and Palliyar tribal populations of Tamil Nadu and to compare these populations with other populations of India and other parts of the world. 50 Poliyar, 24 Malaikuravar and 20 Palliyar samples were taken for the study. Mitochondrial DNA makers HVR1 and from Y-chromosome, SNPs were analysed. The high frequency of C 6 T at 16223 locus of HVR1 region suggests that these populations might fall into “M” haplogroup. Median Joining Network analysis reveals that three populations are endogamous as they showed very less haplotypes. In the Neighbour Joining Tree, Poliyar are clustering with Palliyar, palliyan and kadar tribes of TamilNadu. Malaikuravar are clustering with satmani tribal population whereas Palliyar are clustering with palliyan and kadar tribes of TamilNadu. The mismatch distribution graph reveals that population growth is constant in paliyar while it is expanding in case of Malaikuravar. The Poliyar tribes show this tribes going to show the bottle neck. Y-SNP analysis revealed that Poliyar, Malaikuravar and Palliyar, fall into haplogroup VI, VIII and X suggesting that they must have migrated from South India, Pakistan, South Asia and Central Asia, as there haplotypes are found predominantly in the above region. To elucidate their migration routes, subhaplotyping needed to be done.