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On the Origin of Tibetans and Their Genetic Basis in Adapting High-Altitude Environments

Author

Listed:
  • Binbin Wang
  • Yong-Biao Zhang
  • Feng Zhang
  • Hongbin Lin
  • Xumin Wang
  • Ning Wan
  • Zhenqing Ye
  • Haiyu Weng
  • Lili Zhang
  • Xin Li
  • Jiangwei Yan
  • Panpan Wang
  • Tingting Wu
  • Longfei Cheng
  • Jing Wang
  • Duen-Mei Wang
  • Xu Ma
  • Jun Yu

Abstract

Since their arrival in the Tibetan Plateau during the Neolithic Age, Tibetans have been well-adapted to extreme environmental conditions and possess genetic variation that reflect their living environment and migratory history. To investigate the origin of Tibetans and the genetic basis of adaptation in a rigorous environment, we genotyped 30 Tibetan individuals with more than one million SNP markers. Our findings suggested that Tibetans, together with the Yi people, were descendants of Tibeto-Burmans who diverged from ancient settlers of East Asia. The valleys of the Hengduan Mountain range may be a major migration route. We also identified a set of positively-selected genes that belong to functional classes of the embryonic, female gonad, and blood vessel developments, as well as response to hypoxia. Most of these genes were highly correlated with population-specific and beneficial phenotypes, such as high infant survival rate and the absence of chronic mountain sickness.

Suggested Citation

  • Binbin Wang & Yong-Biao Zhang & Feng Zhang & Hongbin Lin & Xumin Wang & Ning Wan & Zhenqing Ye & Haiyu Weng & Lili Zhang & Xin Li & Jiangwei Yan & Panpan Wang & Tingting Wu & Longfei Cheng & Jing Wang, 2011. "On the Origin of Tibetans and Their Genetic Basis in Adapting High-Altitude Environments," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(2), pages 1-10, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0017002
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0017002
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Nick Patterson & Alkes L Price & David Reich, 2006. "Population Structure and Eigenanalysis," PLOS Genetics, Public Library of Science, vol. 2(12), pages 1-20, December.
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