The genetic legacy of the expansion of Bantu-speaking peoples in Africa
Auteur(s): Fortes-Lima Cesar, Burgarella Concetta, Hammaren Rickard, Eriksson Anders, Vicente Mario, Jolly Cecile, Semo Armando, Gunnink Hilde, Pacchiaroti Sara, Mundeke Léon, Matonda Sakala Igor, Koni Muluwa Joseph, Coutros Peter, Nyambe Terry, Cikomola Cirhuza, Coetzee Vinet, de Castro Minique, Ebbesen Peter, Delanghe Joris, Stoneking Mark, Barham Lawrence, Lombard Marlize, Meyer Anja, Steyn Maryna, Malmström Helena, Rocha Jorge, Soodyall Himla, Pakendorf Brigitte, Bostoen Koen, Schlebusch CarinaNom de la revue/Journal: BioRXiv
Année: 2023
Résumé
<p>With the largest genomic dataset to date of Bantu-speaking populations, including newly generated data of modern-day and ancient DNA from previously unsampled regions in Africa, we shed fresh light on the expansion of peoples speaking Bantu languages that started ∼4000 years ago in western Africa. We have genotyped 1,740 participants, including 1,487 Bantu speakers from 143 populations across 14 African countries, and generated whole-genome sequences from 12 Late Iron Age individuals. Our results show that Bantu speakers received significant gene-flow from local groups in regions they expanded into. We show for the first time that genetic diversity amongst Bantu-speaking populations declines with distance from western Africa, with current-day Zambia and the DRC as possible crossroads of interaction. Using spatially explicit methods and correlating genetic, linguistic and geographical data, we provide cross-disciplinary support for a serial founder migration model. Finally, we discuss the utility of our dataset as an exhaustive modern-day African comparative dataset for ancient DNA studies. These new findings and data will be important to a wide range of disciplines from science and humanities as well as to the medical sector studying human genetic variation and health in African and African-descendant populations.</p>