ASIAN POPULATIONS SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN TO BE LINKED BY GENETIC ANCESTRY

PETALING JAYA (Malaysia), Dec 24 (Bernama) -- A scientific study on 73
ethnic groups in Southeast Asia and East Asia has shown that they are linked by
a unifying genetic ancestry and linguistic thread.

The discovery was made in the study which maps the range of genetic
diversity in Asia and traces the genetic origins of Asian populations. It was
conducted by over 90 scientists from the Pan-Asian SNP Consortium under the
Human Genome Organisation (HUGO PASNP).

HUGO PASNP Malaysia member, Assoc Prof Dr Zilfalil Alwi said the study
conducted by 93 scientists from 10 Asian countries showed that research on
single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), that is, the sequence variation of the
human genes, indicated that genetic ancestry was highly correlated with ethnic
and linguistic groups.

"The SNP methodology is used to study the differences or similarities
between the ethnic groups. From the SNP obtained, we can look at the SNP profile
of an ethnic group and its link with the 72 other groups in the study," he told
a press conference here Wednesday.

Dr Zilfalil, who is the chief researcher for the study in Malaysia, said six
samples were taken from this country, namely from the Negrito (Kensiu and Jehai)
tribe, Proto-Malays (Temuan), Bidayuh (in Sarawak), and Malays (Kelantanese and
Minangkabau).


"The Kelantan, Minangkabau and Singapore Malays are in the same cluster as
they are similar genetically and share the same language, indicating the Malay
stock is spread wide," he said.

Dr Zilfalil, who is also a researcher at the Human Genome Centre, University
Science of Malaysia's (USM) Medical Science Faculty in Kubang Kerian, Kelantan
(an east coast state in Peninsular Malaysia), said the research findings could
help enhance ethnic relations.

The study, which commenced in April 2005 and was completed in mid-2008, cost
almost RM200 million (US$1=RM3.34) and in which Malaysia was represented by USM,
University of Malaya and Monash University. The study also received grants from
the Higher Education Ministry and Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry.

Another researcher, Assoc Prof Dr Maude E. Phipps from Monash University,
said besides looking at the genetic factors, the study suggested that there was
one major inflow of human migration into Asia arising from Southeast Asia,
rather than multiple inflows from both northern and southern routes as proposed
before.

She said Southeast Asia, particularly northern Thailand and Peninsular
Malaysia, were the main geographic source for about 10,000 humans since 100,000
years ago before they migrated to East Asia and North Asia.


"The first migration showed humans moving out of Africa but not through the
northern route. Our study shows that they instead moved out of the continent via
the coastal route in India and then on to northern Thailand and Peninsular
Malaysia before moving further north like to China and Japan.

"Archaeologically and anatomically, from the discovery of homosapien bones,
there is proof that Africa is the orginal place of man, but there may be
evidence in Asia that have not been discovered which could change this
thinking."

She said the second phase of the study by HUGO PASNP was still being
discussed, to analyse the link between a certain ethnic group and chronic
diseases because such a study would require bigger funding as it involved the
use of advanced and sophisticated technology.

"Monash University is doing a study on the link between indigenous people
and metabolic syndrome and diabetes, and why some ethnic groups are prone to
disease complications and why others can avoid getting diabetes.

"We want to identify the genes that prevent certain groups of people from
getting chronic diseases, and also from the aspects of heredity, lifestyle and
diet of these groups," she added.

-- BERNAMA