Associations between ethnic identity, regional history, and genomic ancestry in New Mexicans of Spanish-speaking descent

摘要

This study examines associations between ethnic identity, regional history, and genomic ancestry in New Mexicans of Spanish-speaking descent (NMS). In structured interviews, we asked 507 NMS to select from a list of eight ethnic identity terms identified in previous research. We estimated genomic ancestry for each individual from 291,917 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and compared genomic ancestry, age, and birthplace between groups of individuals who identified using each ethnic identity term. Eighty-eight per cent of NMS who identified as Hispanic, Nuevomexicano/a, and Spanish, on average, were born in New Mexico, as were the vast majority of their parents and grandparents. Thirty-three per cent of NMS who identified as Mexican and Mexican American were born in Mexico, as were 59 per cent of their parents and 67 per cent of their grandparents. Average Native American and African ancestry proportions in Hispanic (0.26, 0.02, respectively), Spanish (0.25, 0.01), and Nuevomexicano/a (0.24, 0.01) NMS were significantly lower than in Mexican American (0.37, 0.04) NMS. Significant age differences between older Spanish and younger Nuevomexicano/a individuals, combined with widespread use of the term Hispanic, may reflect ongoing nomenclature changes. Patterns of correspondence between ethnic identity, ethnic nomenclatures, and genomic ancestry reflect historical patterns of migration, colonization, and cultural change.