Admixture estimates for the population of Havana City.

Background: The Cuban population is essentially a result of the admixture between Spanish, West African and, to a lesser degree, Amerindian tribes that inhabited the island.Aim: The study analysed the genetic structure of the three principal ethnic groups from Havana City, and the contribution of parental populations to its genetic pool.Subjects and methods: According to genealogical information and anthropological traits, 206 subjects were classified as Mulatto, of Spanish decent or of African descent. Seventeen Ancestry Informative Markers, with high difference in frequency between parental populations, were selected to estimate individual and group admixture proportions. The statistical analyses were performed using the ADMIX, ADMIX95 and STRUCTURE 2.1 packages.Results: The results demonstrate a high level of European and African admixture in Mulattos (57–59% European; 41–43% West African). The European contribution was higher in those of Spanish descent (85%) while in those of African descent, the Wes...