Y chromosome diversity in Singaporean Han Chinese population subgroups

Abstract

The Han population of Singapore comprises primarily migrants from Southern China and their descendents. Han dialect group affiliations and surnames are inherited patrilineally. To study the diversity of the Y Chromosome under these groupings, DNA from two Han surname clans and a random Han population were genotyped using microsatellite & single nucleotide (SNP) markers. The populations (a??Controla??, a??Zhanga??, & a??Hainanese Wua??) were not significantly different when microsatellite haplotypes were analysed. SNP analyses showed little difference between the Zhang & Wu populations, but found significant differences when the Zhangs were subdivided into lineages based on genealogical records. Our data indicate that large Han surname and dialect groups in Singapore have become significantly admixed over the generations, though likely less diverse than the general population. Aside from anthropological implications, this suggests Han dialect and surname affiliation are unlikely to be factors needing adjustments in epidemiology studies and forensic genetics.