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Cited by 55Forensic and Genetic ResearchPleistocene-Era Hominins and ArchaeologyGenetic diversity and population structure

Identification of Polynesian mtDNA haplogroups in remains of Botocudo Amerindians from Brazil

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Gonçalves, Vanessa Faria, Stenderup, Jesper, Rodrigues-Carvalho, Cláudia, Silva, Hilton P., Gonçalves-Dornelas, Higgor, Líryo, Andersen, Kivisild, Toomas, Malaspinas, Anna-Sapfo +4 more·2013·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
DOI 10.1073/pnas.1217905110PMC PMC3631640
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Abstract

There is a consensus that modern humans arrived in the Americas 15,000-20,000 y ago during the Late Pleistocene, most probably from northeast Asia through Beringia. However, there is still debate about the time of entry and number of migratory waves, including apparent inconsistencies between genetic and morphological data on Paleoamericans. Here we report the identification of mitochondrial sequences belonging to haplogroups characteristic of Polynesians in DNA extracted from ancient skulls of the now extinct Botocudo Indians from Brazil. The identification of these two Polynesian haplogroups was confirmed in independent replications in Brazil and Denmark, ensuring reliability of the data. Parallel analysis of 12 other Botocudo individuals yielded only the well-known Amerindian mtDNA haplogroup C1. Potential scenarios to try to help understand these results are presented and discussed. The findings of this study may be relevant for the understanding of the pre-Columbian and/or post-Columbian peopling of the Americas.

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  • Human skulls in Brazilian collections attributed to the Botocudo have mtDNA lineages B4a1a1a and B4a1a1 and nuclear DNA typical of Polynesians.

    “Recent ancient DNA studies of human skulls in the collections of the National Museum of Brazil (Museu Nacional)/Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), attributed to a Native American group in Eastern-Central Brazil called the Botocudo have been shown to have mtDNA linages (B4a1a1a and B4a1a1) [103] and nuclear DNA typical of Polynesians [131].”

    From Dispersal, Isolation, and Interaction in the Islands of Polynesia: A Critical Review of Archaeological and Genetic Evidence (2017) · cites this paper as [131]

  • Several scenarios have been previously proposed to explain Polynesian ancestry in Botocudos: the Polynesia-Peru slave trade, the Madagascar-Brazil slave trade, voyaging on European ships, and Polynesian voyaging.

    “Several scenarios have been previously proposed that are of potential relevance for explaining our result that two Botocudo individuals have Polynesian ancestry for both the mitochondrial and nuclear genomes [1]: the Polynesia–Peru slave trade [4], the Madagascar–Brazil slave trade, voyaging on European ships either as crew, passengers, or stowaways, and Polynesian voyaging.”

    From Two ancient human genomes reveal Polynesian ancestry among the indigenous Botocudos of Brazil (2014) · cites this paper as [1]

  • The previous suggestion that Oceanian mtDNA variants in Botocudos came from runaway slaves was not supported by direct dating or genomic analyses.

    “Although it was argued that these genetic traits were likely to be derived from runaway slaves brought to Brazil by Europeans, no direct-dating or genomic analyses were used to support this conclusion.”

    From Two ancient human genomes reveal Polynesian ancestry among the indigenous Botocudos of Brazil (2014) · cites this paper as [1]

  • A recent study found that two male Botocudo individuals presented a combination of mtDNA variants common in present day Oceanian populations.

    “A recent study of skeletal remains from Brazil belonging to the indigenous Botocudo peoples found that two male individuals presented a combination of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variants common in present day Oceanian populations [1].”

    From Two ancient human genomes reveal Polynesian ancestry among the indigenous Botocudos of Brazil (2014) · cites this paper as [1]

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Authors
Gonçalves, V. F., Stenderup, J., Rodrigues-Carvalho, C., Silva, H. P., Gonçalves-Dornelas, H., Líryo, A., Kivisild, T., Malaspinas, A.-S., Campos, P. F., Rasmussen, M., Willerslev, E., & Pena, S. D. J.
Affiliations
  • Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (BR)
  • University of Copenhagen (DK)
  • Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (BR)
  • Universidade Federal do Pará (BR)
  • Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil;
  • University of Cambridge (GB)
ORCID
Venue
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Publisher
National Academy of Sciences
Published
2013-04
Volume
110
Issue
16
Pages
6465-6469
ISSN
  • 0027-8424 (ISSN-L)
  • 1091-6490
DOI
10.1073/pnas.1217905110
PMC
PMC3631640
OpenAlex
W2132566197
Cited by
55
References
55
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 2
FWCI
5.29
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Lundbeckfonden (R109-2012-9995, R70-2010-6286, R155-2013-16338, R38-2008-3048, R24-2008-2527)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Forensic and Genetic Research
  • Social Sciences › Anthropology › Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic diversity and population structure
Keywords
ancient DNA, mitochondrial DNA, extinct populations, pre-Columbian populations
MeSH terms
Base Sequence, Brazil, DNA, Mitochondrial, Haplotypes, Humans, Indians, South American, Molecular Sequence Data, Phylogeny, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Sequence Analysis, DNA, History, Ancient, Human Migration

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