Genomic Diversities and Affinities among Four Endogamous Groups of Punjab (India) Based on Autosomal and

Nineteen insertion/deletion and restriction site polymorphisms on autosomal and mitochondrial genomes and mitochondrial DNA hyper- variable segment 1 sequences were used to study genetic diversities and affinities among four endogamous groups of Punjab, India. High values of heterozygosity were noted in all four groups, both in the autosomal and mito- chondrial genomes. The coefficient of gene differentiation among the groups, however, was found to be low. Genetic distance and phylogenetic analyses based on these data indicated that inferences on affinities among the popula- tions were different when the two sets of loci (autosomal and mitochondrial) were considered separately. We have interpreted these results on the basis of some known historical data on migrations into this region. The results of this study when compared with the findings of some previous studies indicate that there are regional differences in the patterns of correlation between genomic and sociocultural affinities within India. The study of evolution and genetic relationships among contemporary human populations has shed light on the origin of modern humans and also on the nature, extent, and causes of genetic differentiation. India represents one of the most in- teresting global regions in human evolution, primarily because some of the most ancient out-of- Africa waves of human migration appear to have passed through India (Cann 2001). Further, northern India has been a virtual melting pot of hu- mans who have entered India in historic times (Thapar 1966). As groups of hu- mans entered India, there must have been differential admixture of genes brought in by these immigrants with those of preexisting local ethnic groups, who were al- ready socially structured in a hierarchical manner. Therefore, population groups of northern India are of great interest from the standpoint of the peopling of India. In the present study, we have included four endogamous groups resident in the