Una aproximación a la genética de poblaciones antiguas y contemporáneas de la región de El Tajín

Abstract

Presently, the techniques of Molecular Biology and Population Genetics constitute a valuable tool for anthropological research purposes. This work tries to generate knowledge about the human groups that inhabited El Tajín region. For this purpose, we analyzed the AmpliType PM kit at ancient DNA samples and actual totonaca populations from El Tajín region. We computed population parameters of five markers included at the kit, which validated its utilization for human identification purposes in the actual totonaca population. We estimated genetic relationships among eleven Mexican populations, including seven actual groups previously described (Buentello et al. 2003) and two samples of ancient DNA from otopame-tribes of the Epiclasic period from Tula, Hidalgo (Fournier, 2001). Results suggest that Nahuas arrived to El Tajín region before that the proposed by previous archaeological and linguistical evidence. Because the reduced sample size analyzed, these results must be considered as an approximation.