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Objectives: The aim of this study was to contribute to the knowledge of pre-Hispanic Andean mitochondrial diversity by analyzing an individual from the archaeological site Pukara de La Cueva (North-western Argentina). The date of the discovery context (540 ± 60 BP) corresponds to the Regional Developments II period., Methods: Two separate DNA extractions were performed from dentin powder of one tooth. HVR I was amplified by PCR from each extract in three overlapping fragments and the haplotype was determined by consensus among all obtained sequences. The procedures were carried out under strict protocols developed for working with ancient DNA., Results: The individual belonged to the A2ah lineage due to the presence of the 16097C and 16098G transitions, which constitute its distinctive motif. This lineage is very rare in Native American populations and was described in four individuals from current groups inhabiting the Bolivian Llanos, two from South-eastern Brazil, and one from the Gran Chaco region. In addition, two other mutations (16260T and 16286T) were shared with one of the individuals from the Bolivian Llanos region., Conclusions: Considering that the origin of this lineage was postulated for the South American lowlands, the present pre-Hispanic discovery in the Andean area could be taken as a new evidence of gene flow between these regions. Also, it allows the questioning of the geographical origin of this mitochondrial lineage., (© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

The city of Bahía Blanca occupies a strategic place in Argentina south of the Pampean region in the north-east corner of the Patagonia. Since 1828, this city has been the historical and political border between Amerindian lands in the south, and the lands of European colonists. Nowadays, Bahía Blanca is an urban population mainly composed by descendents of immigrants from Spain and other European countries with apparently low admixture with Amerindians. In view of the unexpectedly high Amerindian admixture levels (about 46.7%) suggested by mtDNA data, and protein markers (19.5%), we analyzed a set of 19 Alu polymorphisms (18 autosomal, 1 of Chromosome Y) in a well-documented genealogical sample from Bahía Blanca. The genotyped sample was made up of 119 unrelated healthy individuals whose birth place and grandparent origins were fully documented. According to available genealogical records, the total sample has been subdivided into two groups: Bahía Blanca Original (64 individuals with all 4 gandparents born in Argentina) and Bahía Blanca Mix (55 individuals with one to three grandparents born out of Argentina). Allele frequencies and gene diversity values in Bahía Blanca fit well into the European ranges. Population relationships have been tested for 8 Alu markers, whose variation has been described in several Amerindian and European samples. Reynolds genetic distances underline the significant genetic similarity of Bahía Blanca to Europeans (mean distance 0.044) and their differentiation from Amerindians (0.146). Interestingly enough, when the general sample is divided, Bahía Blanca Original appears slightly closer to Amerindians (0.127) in contrast to Bahía Blanca Mix (0.161). Furthermore, the genetic relationships depicted through a principal components analysis emphasize the relative similarity of Bahía Blanca Original to Amerindians. A thorough knowledge of the sample origins has allowed us to make a subtle distinction of the genetic composition of Bahía Blanca., (Copyright 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

New data on 17 blood group and protein genetic systems obtained among the Ayoreo and Lengua Indians of Paraguay are presented. They include the first report on the red cell band-3 protein investigated among South American Indians. This information was integrated with previous results available for these two and four other groups. Five of the six populations reside in the Chaco area, while the sixth was included as an outgroup living elsewhere in Paraguay. Four of the five Chaco tribes exhibit good genetic homogeneity, but the Ayoreo are somewhat different. The results confirm the Chaco as a distinct biological (as well as cultural and economic) region, which should be considered in evaluations of genetic variability among South American Indians.