%0 Journal Article
%T Genetic continuity across a deeply divergent linguistic contact zone in North Maluku, Indonesia
%A Jason A Wilder
%A Murray P Cox
%A Andrew M Paquette
%A Regan Alford
%A Ari W Satyagraha
%A Alida Harahap
%A Herawati Sudoyo
%J BMC Genetics
%D 2011
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1471-2156-12-100
%X Autosomal and X-linked markers reveal overall Asian admixture of 67% in North Maluku, demonstrating a substantial contribution of genetic material into the region from Asia. We observe no evidence of population structure associated with ethnicity or language affiliation.Our data support a model of widespread Asian admixture in North Maluku, likely mediated by the expansion of Austronesian-speaking peoples into the region during the mid Holocene. In North Maluku there is no genetic differentiation in terms of Austronesian- versus Papuan-speakers, suggesting extensive gene flow across linguistic boundaries. In a regional context, our results illuminate a major genetic divide at the Molucca Sea, between the islands of Sulawesi and North Maluku. West of this divide, populations exhibit predominantly Asian ancestry, with very little contribution of Papuan genetic material. East of the Molucca Sea, populations show diminished rates of Asian admixture and substantial persistence of Papuan genetic diversity.The islands of North Maluku, Indonesia (also known as the Moluccas or Spice Islands) lie in a pivotal position on the migration routes of humans through the Indo-Pacific. Two major prehistoric movements of people are particularly important with respect to the linguistic, cultural, and genetic diversity of the region. First, the initial Pleistocene colonization of the western Pacific flowed from west to east through Indonesia to New Guinea and Australia, bringing the ancestors of modern Papuans and Australians into the region. Although the exact route(s) of this migration are not known, North Maluku lies along a probable pathway of inter-island travel between Sulawesi and New Guinea [1]. Indeed, archaeological evidence confirms human habitation in North Maluku as far back as 32,500 years before present [2]. The second major migration event with a significant impact on North Maluku was the spread of Asian Austronesian-speaking populations from the north via the Philippines
%U http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2156/12/100