Global and Local Ancestry and Its Importance: A Review

Overview

Journal Curr Genomics

Publisher Bentham Science Publishers

Date 2024 Aug 19

PMID 39156729

Authors

Rangasai Chandra Goli

Kiyevi G Chishi

Indrajit Ganguly

Sanjeev Singh

S P Dixit

Pallavi Rathi

Vikas Diwakar

Chandana Sree C

Omkar Maharudra Limbalkar

Nidhi Sukhija

K K Kanaka

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The fastest way to significantly change the composition of a population is through admixture, an evolutionary mechanism. In animal breeding history, genetic admixture has provided both short-term and long-term advantages by utilizing the phenomenon of complementarity and heterosis in several traits and genetic diversity, respectively. The traditional method of admixture analysis by pedigree records has now been replaced greatly by genome-wide marker data that enables more precise estimations. Among these markers, SNPs have been the popular choice since they are cost-effective, not so laborious, and automation of genotyping is easy. Certain markers can suggest the possibility of a population's origin from a sample of DNA where the source individual is unknown or unwilling to disclose their lineage, which are called Ancestry-Informative Markers (AIMs). Revealing admixture level at the locus-specific level is termed as local ancestry and can be exploited to identify signs of recent selective response and can account for genetic drift. Considering the importance of genetic admixture and local ancestry, in this mini-review, both concepts are illustrated, encompassing basics, their estimation/identification methods, tools/software used and their applications.

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