Mitochondrial DNA and Y chromosome-specific polymorphisms in the Seminole Tribe of Fl

[Nephilim]

Mitochondrial DNA and Y chromosome-specific polymorphisms in the Seminole Tribe of Florida.

Huoponen K, Torroni A, Wickman PR, Sellitto D, Gurley DS, Scozzari R, Wallace DC.

Department of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Ga. 30322, USA.

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence variation was examined in 37 Seminoles from Florida by polymerase chain reaction amplification and high resolution restriction endonuclease analysis. The Y chromosome TaqI restriction fragment length polymorphisms detected by the probes 49a, 49f, and 12f2 were examined in the 26 males of this group. Analysis of the mtDNA revealed that all four Native American haplogroups (A, B, C and D) were present in the Seminoles encompassing about 95% of the Seminole mtDNAs. No European mtDNAs were found among the Seminoles, but two mtDNAs (about 5%) were members of the African-specific haplogroup L1, thus indicating that a limited number of African women were incorporated in the Seminole tribe. Analysis of Y chromosome haplotypes supports the hypothesis that haplotypes 18 and 63 are the most likely founding Native American Y chromosome haplotypes from Asia. However, 11% of the Seminole Y chromosomes represented haplotypes generally attributed to Europeans, though none harbored standard African haplotypes. These findings support historical evidence that the Seminole tribe has integrated individuals of European and African ancestry, but suggests that the sex ratio of nonnatives from different continents may have varied.

PMID: 9156318 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9156318

It seems that most of the African admixture is on the maternal line, their is 0% African on the paternal line, and some European, however most of it is of American origins. Their is no European mtDNA found. This of course reflects the historical landscape of the tribe in dealing with the slaves and runways.

[Rochefaton]

This makes sense considering their history. Does anyone have access to this full study? I would like to see the specifics since the Seminole are a people of heterogeneous origins. I would expect them to have various Native haplotypes on the paternal and maternal side.

I did not expect to see much European admixture since the Seminoles were one of the few tribes to successfully defend themselves from European and US invasions. They only began to lose their culture, religion, and language in the 1950's when the US government decided to modernize and relocate the Seminole people. They also began preaching Christianity as part of the modernization process, because as we all know, accepting the religion of an ancient people from another continent is the opitome of modernization.

Some Seminole people have been trying to reclaim their heritage over the past few decades, but many have simply moved on, so to say.

[Nephilim]

This makes sense considering their history. Does anyone have access to this full study? I would like to see the specifics since the Seminole are a people of heterogeneous origins. I would expect them to have various Native haplotypes on the paternal and maternal side.

I did not expect to see much European admixture since the Seminoles were one of the few tribes to successfully defend themselves from European and US invasions. They only began to lose their culture, religion, and language in the 1950's when the US government decided to modernize and relocate the Seminole people. They also began preaching Christianity as part of the modernization process, because as we all know, accepting the religion of an ancient people from another continent is the opitome of modernization.

Some Seminole people have been trying to reclaim their heritage over the past few decades, but many have simply moved on, so to say.


The Seminoles are mostly Amerindians with some African admixture. Also their African admixture is mostly confined to the maternal line. This fits with the historical landscape, where many African slaves came took refuge with the Seminoles and eventually intermarried with them. Several Seminole Chiefs have had African wives.

The Seminole resistance to Europeans was one the of the strongest among all Amerindian tribes.

But whats interesting their was no paternal African origins found, but rather few European markers, but no European markers on the maternal, and it was African.

However their for the most part largely of Amerindian background.

[Ugalde64]

Agreed. They're pred. Amerindian all-around. The paternal European markers could be attributed to Scottish traders marrying Creek/Seminole women and the maternal African markers could be attributed to Seminole chiefs (such as Osceola) marrying Black slave women.