Mitochondrial DNA Variation Analysis of Mentawai Population

摘要

Mentawai people is one of the indigenous tribes of Mentawai islands, West Sumatra, Indonesian archipelago. Until now, the genetic study focusing in Mentawai population and its relationship with other population is scarce. Population genetic study using mitochondrial DNA analysis would provide better understanding about Mentawai population and their relationship with other populations. Mitochondrial DNA HV1 (hypervariable region 1) data were collected from GenBank with total sample of 2408 comprising 17 populations in Asia, Africa, and Europe. Mentawai, Basque, Kenya, Egypt, Ainu, Koryak, Nivkh, South China, Hongkong, Aboriginal Taiwan, Philippines, Thailand, Myanmar, Papua, Bugis, Java, and Batak Negritos. Statistical analysis of genetic distance was performed by Arlequin software. Phylogenetic tree calculation based on the genetic distance data was performed using MEGA5 software. Mentawai population (n=128) have 18 haplotypes and 6 of them are shared with other populations. The Philippines (n=100) shared 19% of its haplotype variation with Mentawai population. Mentawai population demonstrates the smallest enetic distance with the Philippines (F_(ST)=0.04534), Thailand (F_(ST)=0.05625), Bugis (F_(ST)=0.07018), and South China (F_(ST)=0.07576) populations compared to other populations (p-value=0.0000±0.000). The phylogenetic tree analysis showed the possibility that Mentawai, Philippines, Bugis, and South China populations were rooted from Aboriginal Taiwan as the common ancestor. All evidence suggests that Mentawai population have the closest genetic relationship with Philippines population. This is in accordance to the theory of South East Asia population originated from migrating Aboriginal Taiwan population through the Philippines.