Genetic differentiation and patterns of gene flow of seven minority populations in Xinjiang

Objective: Genotype data of nine CODIS STR loci were gathered to examine the features of population differentiation and gene flow of seven Xinjiang minorities. Methods: Heterozygosity, Net's coefficient of genetic differentiation, Net's genetic distance and Wright's F-statistics were calculated. Statistical tests using exact method were performed to measure the level of differentiation. Phylogenetic trees were constructed by Mega; AMOVA was processed by Arlequin. R-matrix model had been applied to describe the patterns of gene flow. Results: It shows that average genetic heterogeneity for each population was above 0.7 with genetic differentiation coefficient below 2%. Statistical tests for population differentiation were significant for most of the loci. Phylogenetic analysis and AMOVA showed that all populations were divided into three main groups. The R-matrix analysis reflected that Uygur, Kirgiz and Ozbek had more amounts of gene flow than other populations, while the pattern of Hui was more isolated. Conclusion: The seven minorities in Xinjiang are independent populations, while the level of differentiation is at average. The relationship in evolution is not far from each other, with wide gene flow.