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Genetic Affinity Between Diverse Ethnoreligious Communities of Tamil Nadu, India: A Microsatellite Study
- Human Biology
- Wayne State University Press
- Volume 80, Number 6, December 2008
- pp. 601-609
- 10.1353/hub.2008.a263912
- Article
- Additional Information
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Historically, a number of local Hindu caste groups have converted to Islam and formed religious endogamous groups. Therefore the local caste groups and religious communities in a region are expected to show genetic relatedness. In this study we investigate the genetic relationship between Tamil-speaking (Dravidian language) Muslims (Sunni), six endogamous Hindu castes, and a tribal ethnic group (Irulars) using 13 CODIS (Combined DNA Index System) autosomal microsatellite markers. Muslims show the highest average heterozygosity (0.405) compared to the other groups. The neighbor-joining tree and the multidimensional-scaling plot show clustering of Tamil-speaking Muslims with three caste groups (Gounder, Paraiyar, and Vanniyar), whereas the Irular tribe is separated out of the cluster.