The genotyping of urinary JC virus (JCV) DNAs is a novel means of elucidating the origin of ethnic populations. We adopted this method to gain insights into the peopling of Myanmar. JCV genotype profiles at two sites of Myanmar, Yangon facing the Andaman Sea and Peinnebeen located in the central part of Myanmar, were reported previously. In this study, we elucidated JCV genotype profiles at three other sites of Myanmar: Chaungtha Beach facing the Bay of Bengal, Myitkyina located near China and Tiddim located near India. From the JCV genotype profiles at the five sites elucidated here and previously, it is suggested that SC, the southeastern-Asian/southern-Chinese subtype, mainly occurrs throughout Myanmar, and that a few minor subtypes occur at southern and northern sites (Yangon, Chaungtha Beach and Myitkyina). Furthermore, using the whole-genome approach, we evaluated the phylogenetic relationships among various SC isolates detected in Myanmar and other countries. The results of this analysis revealed that SC diverged into various subgroups. Most were unique to Myanmar, while one was widespread in South China and southeastern Asia, including Myanmar. The present findings are consistent with the view that Myanmar was established by waves of human migration from neighboring regions.

View full abstract

Morphological and osteological data taken from chimpanzee skeletal materials gathered at chimpanzee research sites are accompanied by life history data (e.g. diet, environment of habitat, sexual activity and social relationship). Unfortunately morphological and osteological studies of chimpanzee skeletal remains from long-term field research projects are rare (Yasui and Takahata, 1983, an infant of P. t. schweinfurthii from Mahale mountains National Park, Tanzania; Morbeck and Zihlman, 1989, ten individuals of P. t. schweinfurthii from Gombe National Park, Tanzania; Matsuzawa et al. 1990, a young male of P. t. verus from Bossou, Guinea). This study described basic morphological and osteological information (i.e. linear measurements of skulls and dentitions, dental wear, notable pathological traits) taken from four free-ranging chimpanzee skulls (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) that were collected from the Mahale Mountains National Park, Tanzania. The dental wear is then discussed in relation to the life history variables of individual chimpanzees.

View full abstract

A sample of 1768 participants was tested for seven different traits of lateral functional dominance (hand clasping, handedness, arm folding, leg folding, stride type, preferential foot, and preferential eye) in five populations (Oroqen, Ewenki, Daur, Mongol, and Han) from Inner Mongolia, China. The results are as follows. 1) Seven traits all show right dominance (RD) in Mongol. However, just arm folding of the seven traits shows left dominance (LD) in Oroqen and Ewenki. In addition, LD also present for hand clasping in Daur, and for hand clasping and stride type in Han. 2) Sexual characteristics are not obvious in the traits. 3) Significant ethnic characteristics are observed in stride type, preferential foot, and preferential eye. 4) Some relationships occur in the traits. Furthermore, leg folding has the mostly close correlation with other six traits, followed by between hand clasping and handedness, and, in the last place, preferential eye with other six traits. 5) From PCA and cluster analysis, it is shown that, compared with Oroqen that has relatively distinct distribution of RD and LD for most of the traits, Ewenki shows the most similar to Mongol, and the more to Daur and Han in the distributing pattern. On the whole, the result coincides with the known history data of ethnic origin of each population.

View full abstract

In order to determine whether the legs of the Japanese have continued to lengthen, two nation-wide anthropometric data sets from the MITI and Ministry of Education were referred to. Based on the cross-sectional and longitudinally-followed mean value observations, we can conclude that until the 1970s the Japanese had become taller due to increasing leg length. Since the 1980s, however, increase in leg length (crotch height and estimated leg length) has declined relative to height increase, especially in young males, whereas in young females relative leg length to height continues to increase if only a little. The main cause of the absolute and relative shortening of the legs in young males can be attributed to the greater increase of weight and trunk circumferences resulting from subcutaneous fat accumulation. Thus we can conclude that the Japanese have become taller and bigger while retaining their original linear body proportion. These proportions will remain unchanged so long as the gene pool remains unchanged.

View full abstract

Ancient DNA technique is a very powerful tool for the studies on past human populations. However, in most cases ancient DNA is extremely degraded into short fragments, and the information is limited because of the damaged state. A large-scale data analysis for human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was carried out to assess validity of the short nucleotide sequence for closely related human populations. We retrieved mtDNA data from the DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank nucleotide sequence database and constructed a data set containing 414 distinct mtDNA types derived from 19 populations of East Eurasia and the surrounding area. A series of new procedures were applied and an mtDNA phylogenetic tree was constructed. Six major star-like clusters were observed in this tree, and the corresponding six radiation groups (I-VI) were characterized. Frequency distributions of each radiation group showed remarkable difference in each geographical area, suggesting that the short mtDNA nucleotide sequences were valuable in analyzing ancient human populations. The efficient procedure for data analysis will enhance the usefulness of ancient DNA data. Additionally, we discuss a possibility of two human migration routes from Africa to East Eurasia based on the mtDNA tree topology and the coalescence times in each radiation group.

View full abstract

We analyzed 201 Sus bones excavated from one Jomon and nine Yayoi sites in the southwestern Japanese Islands to determine their genetic relatedness using three fragments of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region. Three fragments A (194-bp), B (212-bp) and C (166-bp) were independently amplified from 38, 22 and 28 Sus bone specimens, respectively. All three fragments were successfully sequenced from ten specimens to construct 574-bp sequences that were combined with 57 modern Sus scrofa sequences including wild boars and domestic pigs to make a phylogenetic tree. Four of 10 specimens excavated from three sites located in the western part of Japan, were closely related to modern East Asian domestic pigs. The other six specimens from three sites were closely related to modern Japanese wild boars. However, parsimonious networks constructed for each fragment showed the difficulty of clearly distinguishing between Japanese wild boars and East Asian domestic pigs. These results reveal the possibility that even if Sus bones found at Yayoi sites are identified as East Asian domestic pigs, they were brought as exchanges or foods from Continental Asia to Japan through trade, but no evidence showing Sus breeding.

View full abstract