Phenotypic evolution of human craniofacial morphology after admixture

A geometric morphometrics approach

Bibliographic Data

ID8316007
AuthorsN Martínez‐abadía (0000-0003-3061-2123, Universitat de Barcelona, corresponding author), Neus Martínez‐Abadías, Rolando González‐josé (0000-0002-8128-9381, Centro Científico Tecnológico Patagónico), Antonio González‐martín (0000-0003-0276-0778, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo), Silvina Van der Molen (0000-0003-0858-842X, Centro Científico Tecnológico Patagónico), Arturo Talavera (National Institute of Anthropology and History), Patricia Hernández (0000-0001-8527-5158, National Institute of Anthropology and History), Miquel Hernández (0000-0003-3100-7881, Universitat de Barcelona)
Year2006
Volume129
Issue3
Pages387-398
Publication date2006-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Physical Anthropology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0002-9483 • E-ISSN: 1096-8644
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/ajpa.20291
PMID16323202
OpenAlexW2134622293
LanguageEN
Citations received25
References cited52

An evolutionary, diachronic approach to the phenotypic craniofacial pattern arisen in a human population after high levels of admixture and gene flow was achieved by means of geometric morphometrics. Admixture has long been studied after molecular data. Nevertheless, few efforts have been made to explain the morphological outcome in human craniofacial samples. The Spanish‐Amerindian contact can be considered a good scenario for such an analysis. Here we present a comparative analysis of craniofacial shape changes observed between two putative ancestor groups, Spanish and precontact Aztecs, and two diachronic admixed groups, corresponding to early and late colonial periods from the Mexico's Central Valley. Quantitative shape comparisons of Amerindian, Spanish, and admixed groups were used to test the expectations of quantitative genetics for admixture events. In its simplest form, this prediction states that an admixed group will present phenotypic values falling between those of both parental groups. Results show that, in general terms, although the human skull is a complex, integrated structure, the craniofacial morphology observed fits the theoretical expectations of quantitative genetics. Thus, it is predictive of population structure and history. In fact, results obtained after the craniofacial analysis are in accordance with previous molecular and historical interpretations, providing evidence that admixture is a main microevolutionary agent influencing modern Mexican gene pool. However, expectations are not straightforward when moderate shape changes are considered. Deviations detected at localized structures, such as the upper and lower face, highlight the evolution of a craniofacial pattern exclusively inherent to the admixed groups, indicating that quantitative characters might respond to admixture in a complicated, nondirectional way. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2006 © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc

Biology · Craniofacial · Evolutionary biology · Gene · Morphology (biology) · Morphometrics · Phenotype · Zoology · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies · Genetics · Morphological variations and asymmetry · Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology

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