Chile is the ultimate mestizo country [DNA study]

[Gauthier]

Gene geography of Chile: regional distribution of American, European and African genetic contributions

Macarena Fuentes, Iván Pulgar, Carla Gallo, María-Cátira Bortolini, Samuel Canizales-Quinteros, Gabriel Bedoya, Rolando González-José, Andrés Ruiz-Linares, Francisco Rothhammer
PMID: 25052264 DOI: 10.4067/S0034-98872014000300001

Abstract
Background: The geographical distribution of genes plays a key role in genetic epidemiology. The Chilean population has three major stem groups (Native American, European and African).

Aim: To estimate the regional rate of American, European and African admixture of the Chilean population.

Subjects and methods: Forty single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP´s) which exhibit substantially different frequencies between Amerindian populations (ancestry-informative markers or AIM´s), were genotyped in a sample of 923 Chilean participants to estimate individual genetic ancestry.

Results: The American, European and African individual average admixture estimates for the 15 Chilean Regions were relatively homogeneous and not statistically different. However, higher American components were found in northern and southern Chile and higher European components were found in central Chile. A negative correlation between African admixture and latitude was observed. On the average, American and European genetic contributions were similar and significantly higher than the African contribution. Weighted mean American, European and African genetic contributions of 44.34% ± 3 9%, 51.85% ± 5.44% and 3.81% ± 0.45%, were estimated. Fifty two percent of subjects harbor African genes. Individuals with Aymara and Mapuche surnames have an American admixture of 58.64% and 68.33%, respectively.

Conclusions: Half of the Chilean population harbors African genes. Participants with Aymara and Mapuche surnames had a higher American genetic contribution than the general Chilean population. These results confirm the usefulness of surnames as a first approximation to determine genetic ancestry.



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[Gauthier]

Although a couple of years old (the study) it is still the most complete when it comes to Chile since it covers most provinces.

Chile doesn't have those sharp regional variations in DNA admixture that countries like Colombia or Mexico have.

Overall a good example of a near 50/50 mestizo country.

[Megadorian]

Tfw your whole colonial empire was about partying and creating an entire continent of mixed race mestizos

[axel.aleman]

Excelente, aunque los mestizos chilenos se ven más caucasicos de lo que en verdad son debido a que los mapuches eran los indígenas con tez más clara y cráneo más mesocefalico del continente

[samario]

Most accurate Chilean study to date.

[Cristiano viejo]

The ultimate triracial country I would say according these data...

[Daven]

Chile more populated areas are clearly harnizo-leaning.

I remember in another study the average euro was like 56%-58%.

[Alexandro]

I always had the perception they were more European for some reason, interesting.

[Hasien]

Although a couple of years old (the study) it is still the most complete when it comes to Chile since it covers most provinces.

Chile doesn't have those sharp regional variations in DNA admixture that countries like Colombia or Mexico have.

Overall a good example of a near 50/50 mestizo country.

Agree.

[axel.aleman]

I always had the perception they were more European for some reason, interesting.

Lee mi comentario arriba, detalle las razones del porque de eso