Genetic studies on Sri Lankan Tamils: Difference between revisions

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{{See also|Genetics and archaeogenetics of South Asia|Outline of South Asian history|Peopling of India|History of India|History of Bengal|History of South India|History of Tamil Nadu|History of Kerala|History of Andhra Pradesh|History of Sri Lanka|Genetic studies on Sinhalese|Sinhalisation}}
{{Short description|DNA analysis of Sri Lankan Tamil populations}}
{{Expert needed|1=Ethnic groups|date=October 2019}}
Although '''[[Sri Lankan Tamils]]''' are culturally and linguistically distinct, [[genetics|genetic]] studies indicate that they are closely related to other ethnic groups in the island while being related to the [[Tamils|Indian Tamils]] from [[South India]] and [[Bengalis]] from the [[East India]] as well. There are various studies that indicate varying degrees of connections between Sri Lankan Tamils, Sinhalese and [[Indian people|Indian ethnic groups]].
 
Although '''[[Sri Lankan Tamils]]''' are culturally and linguistically distinct, [[genetics|genetic]] studies indicate that they are closely related to other ethnic groups in the island while being related to the [[Tamil people|Indian Tamils]] from [[South India]] and [[Bengali people|Bengalis]] from the [[East India]] as well. There are various studies that indicate varying degrees of connections between Sri Lankan Tamils, Sinhalese and [[Indian people|Indian ethnic groups]].


==Study by Dr. Gautam K. Kshatriya==
==Study by Dr. Gautam K. Kshatriya==
According to a [[genetic admixture]] study by Dr. Gautam K. Kshatriya in 1995, the Sri Lankan Tamil are closely related to the [[Sinhalese people|Sinhalese]] who are closely related to [[Tamil people|Indian Tamils]]. Kshatriya found the Sri Lankan Tamils to have a greater contribution from the Sinhalese of Sri Lanka (55.20% +/- 9.47) while the Sinhalese had the greatest contribution from [[Tamil people|South Indian Tamils]] (69.86% +/- 0.61), followed by [[Bengali people|Bengalis]] from the [[East India]] (25.41% +/- 0.51). With both the Sri Lankan Tamils and Sinhalese in the island sharing a common gene pool of 55%. They are farthest from the indigenous [[Veddahs]].<ref name=GKK>{{cite journal | author = Kshatriya, G.K. | year = 1995 | title = Genetic affinities of Sri Lankan populations | journal = Human Biology | volume = 67 | issue = 6 | pages = 843–66 |pmid=8543296 |publisher = American Association of Anthropological Genetics}}</ref> This close relationship between the Sri Lankan Tamils and Sinhalese makes sense, as the two populations have been close to each other historically, linguistically, and culturally for over 2000 years.
According to a [[genetic admixture]] study by Dr. Gautam K. Kshatriya in 1995, the Sri Lankan Tamil are closely related to the [[Sinhalese people|Sinhalese]] who are closely related to [[Tamil people|Indian Tamils]]. Kshatriya found that the genetic makeup of [[Sri Lankan Tamils]] shows an overlap of about 55.2% (± 9.47%) with that of Sinhalese people while the Sinhalese had the greatest contribution from [[Tamil people|South Indian Tamils]] (69.86% +/- 0.61), followed by [[Bengalis]] from the [[East India]] (25.41% +/- 0.51). With both the Sri Lankan Tamils and Sinhalese in the island sharing a common gene pool of 55%. They are farthest from the indigenous [[Veddahs]].<ref name=GKK>{{cite journal | author = Kshatriya, G.K. | year = 1995 | title = Genetic affinities of Sri Lankan populations | journal = Human Biology | volume = 67 | issue = 6 | pages = 843–66 |pmid=8543296 |publisher = American Association of Anthropological Genetics}}</ref> This is also supported by a genetic distance study, which showed low differences in genetic distance between Tamils and the Sinhalese.<ref name="gd"/> Tamils and the Sinhalese also share similar cultures in terms of kinship classification, cousin marriage, dress and housing.<ref>{{cite journal|jstor=667927|title=The Structure of the Sinhalese Kindred: A Re-Examination of the Dravidian Terminology|first=Nur|last=Yalman|date=1 January 1962|journal=American Anthropologist|volume=64|issue=3|pages=548–575|doi=10.1525/aa.1962.64.3.02a00060}}</ref>
This is also supported by a genetic distance study, which showed low differences in genetic distance between Tamils and the Sinhalese.<ref name="gd"/> Tamils and the Sinhalese also share similar cultures in terms of kinship classification, cousin marriage, dress and housing.<ref>{{cite journal|jstor=667927|title=The Structure of the Sinhalese Kindred: A Re-Examination of the Dravidian Terminology|first=Nur|last=Yalman|date=1 January 1962|journal=American Anthropologist|volume=64|issue=3|pages=548–575|doi=10.1525/aa.1962.64.3.02a00060}}</ref>


However, these studies do not consider various diverse Veddah groups: Veddahs have a higher diversity between groups than Sinhalese and Tamils do.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Mitochondrial DNA history of Sri Lankan ethnic people: their relations within the island and with the Indian subcontinental populations|first1=Lanka|last1=Ranaweera|first2=Supannee|last2=Kaewsutthi|first3=Aung|last3=Win Tun|first4=Hathaichanoke|last4=Boonyarit|first5=Samerchai|last5=Poolsuwan|first6=Patcharee|last6=Lertrit|date=1 January 2014|journal=Journal of Human Genetics|volume=59|issue=1|pages=28–36|doi=10.1038/jhg.2013.112|pmid=24196378|doi-access=free}}</ref> Later studies have established some connections and links between certain Veddah groups towards North and Sri Lankan Tamils.
==Other studies==
 
Furthermore, a study looking at genetic variation of the [[FUT2]] gene in the Sri Lankan Tamil and Sinhalese population, found similar genetic backgrounds for both ethnic groups, with little genetic flow from other neighbouring Asian population groups.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Soejima M, Koda Y |title=Denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography-based genotyping and genetic variation of FUT2 in Sri Lanka |journal=Transfusion |volume=45 |issue=12 |pages=1934–9 |date=December 2005 |pmid=16371047 |doi=10.1111/j.1537-2995.2005.00651.x|s2cid=10401001 }}</ref> Studies have also found no significant difference with regards to [[Human blood group systems|blood group]], blood genetic markers and [[single-nucleotide polymorphism]] between the Sri Lankan Tamils and other ethnic groups in Sri Lanka.<ref>{{cite journal|jstor=2799860|title=Blood Groups of the Sinhalese|first1=D. F.|last1=Roberts|first2=C. K.|last2=Creen|first3=K. P.|last3=Abeyaratne|date=1 January 1972|journal=Man|volume=7|issue=1|pages=122–127|doi=10.2307/2799860}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1002/ajpa.1330760210 |title=Blood genetic markers in Sri Lankan populations—reappraisal of the legend of Prince Vijaya |year=1988 |last1=Saha |first1=N. |journal=American Journal of Physical Anthropology |volume=76 |pages=217–25 |pmid=3166342 |issue=2}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal  |vauthors=Dissanayake VH, Giles V, Jayasekara RW, etal |title=A study of three candidate genes for pre-eclampsia in a Sinhalese population from Sri Lanka |journal=The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research |volume=35 |issue=2 |pages=234–42 |date=April 2009 |pmid=19708171 |doi=10.1111/j.1447-0756.2008.00926.x|s2cid=24958292 |doi-access=free }}</ref> Another study has also found "no significant genetic variation among the major ethnic groups in Sri Lanka".<ref>Ruwan J. Illeperuma, Samudi N. Mohotti, Thilini M. De Silva, Neil D. Fernandopulle, W.D. Ratnasooriya, Genetic profile of 11 autosomal STR loci among the four major ethnic groups in Sri Lanka, Forensic Science International: Genetics, Volume 3, Issue 3, June 2009, Pages e105-e106</ref> This is further supported by a study which found very similar frequencies of alleles [[Rs1801133|MTHFR 677T]], [[Thrombin|F2 20210A]] & [[Factor V Leiden|F5 1691A]] in South Indian Tamil, Sinhalese, Sri Lankan Tamil and Moor populations.<ref name="Vajira H.W. Dissanayake 2009, Pages 159-162">Vajira H.W. Dissanayake, Lakshini Y. Weerasekera, C. Gayani Gammulla, Rohan W. Jayasekara, Prevalence of genetic thrombophilic polymorphisms in the Sri Lankan population – implications for association study design and clinical genetic testing services, Experimental and Molecular Pathology, Volume 87, Issue 2, October 2009, Pages 159–162</ref>
The observation that the Sinhalese has highest contribution from South Indian Tamils is challenged by new studies. See [[Genetic studies on Sinhalese]]. It is shown that 72% of genetic admixture comes from Bengali rather than South Indian Tamil. The majority of studies support the fact of higher levels of West-Bengali genetic ancestry among Sinhalese with a minor Tamil genetic influence.


==Other studies==
However, another study looking at [[Alu sequence|Alu]] [[polymorphism (biology)|polymorphism]],<ref name="krep">http://www.krepublishers.com/06-Special%20Volume-Journal/T-Anth-00-Special%20Volumes/T-Anth-SI-03-Anth-Today-Web/Anth-SI-03-29-Mastana-S/Anth-SI-03-29-Mastana-S-Tt.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</ref> [[Variable number tandem repeat|VNTR]]<ref name="mastana">{{cite journal |vauthors=Papiha SS, Mastana SS, Purandare CA, Jayasekara R, Chakraborty R |title=Population genetic study of three VNTR loci (D2S44, D7S22, and D12S11) in five ethnically defined populations of the Indian subcontinent |journal=Human Biology |volume=68 |issue=5 |pages=819–35 |date=October 1996 |pmid=8908803}}</ref> and genetic distance<ref name="gd">{{cite journal |doi=10.1002/ajpa.1330450112 |title=The legend of Prince Vijaya — a study of Sinhalese origins |year=1976 |last1=Kirk |first1=R. L. |journal=American Journal of Physical Anthropology |volume=45 |issue=1 |pages=91–99}}</ref> have found the genetic relationship between the South Indian Tamil and Sinhalese to be much smaller than Kshatriya's findings (11–30%).
Furthermore, a study looking at genetic variation of the [[FUT2]] gene in the Sri Lankan Tamil and Sinhalese population, found similar genetic backgrounds for both ethnic groups, with little genetic flow from other neighbouring Asian population groups.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Soejima M, Koda Y |title=Denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography-based genotyping and genetic variation of FUT2 in Sri Lanka |journal=Transfusion |volume=45 |issue=12 |pages=1934–9 |date=December 2005 |pmid=16371047 |doi=10.1111/j.1537-2995.2005.00651.x}}</ref> Studies have also found no significant difference with regards to [[Human blood group systems|blood group]], blood genetic markers and [[single-nucleotide polymorphism]] between the Sri Lankan Tamils and other ethnic groups in Sri Lanka.<ref>{{cite journal|jstor=2799860|title=Blood Groups of the Sinhalese|first1=D. F.|last1=Roberts|first2=C. K.|last2=Creen|first3=K. P.|last3=Abeyaratne|date=1 January 1972|journal=Man|volume=7|issue=1|pages=122–127|doi=10.2307/2799860}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1002/ajpa.1330760210 |title=Blood genetic markers in Sri Lankan populations—reappraisal of the legend of Prince Vijaya |year=1988 |last1=Saha |first1=N. |journal=American Journal of Physical Anthropology |volume=76 |pages=217–25 |pmid=3166342 |issue=2}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal  |vauthors=Dissanayake VH, Giles V, Jayasekara RW, etal |title=A study of three candidate genes for pre-eclampsia in a Sinhalese population from Sri Lanka |journal=The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research |volume=35 |issue=2 |pages=234–42 |date=April 2009 |pmid=19708171 |doi=10.1111/j.1447-0756.2008.00926.x}}</ref> Another study has also found "no significant genetic variation among the major ethnic groups in Sri Lanka".<ref>Ruwan J. Illeperuma, Samudi N. Mohotti, Thilini M. De Silva, Neil D. Fernandopulle, W.D. Ratnasooriya, Genetic profile of 11 autosomal STR loci among the four major ethnic groups in Sri Lanka, Forensic Science International: Genetics, Volume 3, Issue 3, June 2009, Pages e105-e106</ref> This is further supported by a study which found very similar frequencies of alleles [[Rs1801133|MTHFR 677T]], [[Thrombin|F2 20210A]] & [[Factor V Leiden|F5 1691A]] in South Indian Tamil, Sinhalese, Sri Lankan Tamil and Moor populations.<ref name="Vajira H.W. Dissanayake 2009, Pages 159-162">Vajira H.W. Dissanayake, Lakshini Y. Weerasekera, C. Gayani Gammulla, Rohan W. Jayasekara, Prevalence of genetic thrombophilic polymorphisms in the Sri Lankan population – implications for association study design and clinical genetic testing services, Experimental and Molecular Pathology, Volume 87, Issue 2, October 2009, Pages 159–162</ref>


However, another study looking at [[Alu sequence|Alu]] [[polymorphism (biology)|polymorphism]],<ref name="krep">http://www.krepublishers.com/06-Special%20Volume-Journal/T-Anth-00-Special%20Volumes/T-Anth-SI-03-Anth-Today-Web/Anth-SI-03-29-Mastana-S/Anth-SI-03-29-Mastana-S-Tt.pdf</ref> [[Variable number tandem repeat|VNTR]]<ref name="mastana">{{cite journal |vauthors=Papiha SS, Mastana SS, Purandare CA, Jayasekara R, Chakraborty R |title=Population genetic study of three VNTR loci (D2S44, D7S22, and D12S11) in five ethnically defined populations of the Indian subcontinent |journal=Human Biology |volume=68 |issue=5 |pages=819–35 |date=October 1996 |pmid=8908803}}</ref> and genetic distance<ref name="gd">{{cite journal |doi=10.1002/ajpa.1330450112 |title=The legend of Prince Vijaya — a study of Sinhalese origins |year=1976 |last1=Kirk |first1=R. L. |journal=American Journal of Physical Anthropology |volume=45 |issue=1 |pages=91}}</ref> have found the genetic relationship between the South Indian Tamil and Sinhalese to be much smaller than Kshatriya's findings (11–30%).
Dr Sarabjit Mastanain finding states [[cophenetic correlation]] was 0.8956 and it indicates Sinhalese & Tamil as native population. Also, it reflects on [[genetic distance]] among five populations of Sri Lanka as per given below [[Eigenvector analysis|eigenvector plot]] of the [[R-matrix]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Mastana |first=Sarabjit |date=November 1996 |title=Genetic variation in Sri Lanka |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/14297881 |journal=Scientific Reports |volume=68 |issue=5 |pages=26–27|pmid=8908798 }}</ref>
{{clade
|label1=''Genetic distance''
  |sublabel1=(''5 populations of Sri Lanka'')
|1={{clade
  |1={{clade
      |1=Burgher
      }}
  |2={{clade
      |1=Malay
      |2={{clade
        |1=Moor
        |2={{clade
          |1=Tamil
          |2=Sinhalese
          }}
        }}
      }}
  }}
}}


==See also==
==See also==
*[[Genetic studies on Sinhalese]]
*[[South Asian ethnic groups]]
*[[South Asian ethnic groups]]
*[[Y-DNA haplogroups by ethnic group]]
*[[Y-DNA haplogroups by ethnic group]]
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[[Category:Genetic genealogy|Sri Lankan Tamils]]
[[Category:Genetic genealogy|Sri Lankan Tamils]]
[[Category:Genetics by ethnicity|Tamils]]
[[Category:Human population genetics|Sri Lankan Tamils]]
[[Category:Human population genetics|Sri Lankan Tamils]]
[[Category:Sri Lankan Tamil history]]
[[Category:Sri Lankan Tamil history]]

Latest revision as of 16:44, 20 February 2025


Although Sri Lankan Tamils are culturally and linguistically distinct, genetic studies indicate that they are closely related to other ethnic groups in the island while being related to the Indian Tamils from South India and Bengalis from the East India as well. There are various studies that indicate varying degrees of connections between Sri Lankan Tamils, Sinhalese and Indian ethnic groups.

Study by Dr. Gautam K. Kshatriya[edit | edit source]

According to a genetic admixture study by Dr. Gautam K. Kshatriya in 1995, the Sri Lankan Tamil are closely related to the Sinhalese who are closely related to Indian Tamils. Kshatriya found that the genetic makeup of Sri Lankan Tamils shows an overlap of about 55.2% (± 9.47%) with that of Sinhalese people while the Sinhalese had the greatest contribution from South Indian Tamils (69.86% +/- 0.61), followed by Bengalis from the East India (25.41% +/- 0.51). With both the Sri Lankan Tamils and Sinhalese in the island sharing a common gene pool of 55%. They are farthest from the indigenous Veddahs.[1] This is also supported by a genetic distance study, which showed low differences in genetic distance between Tamils and the Sinhalese.[2] Tamils and the Sinhalese also share similar cultures in terms of kinship classification, cousin marriage, dress and housing.[3]

Other studies[edit | edit source]

Furthermore, a study looking at genetic variation of the FUT2 gene in the Sri Lankan Tamil and Sinhalese population, found similar genetic backgrounds for both ethnic groups, with little genetic flow from other neighbouring Asian population groups.[4] Studies have also found no significant difference with regards to blood group, blood genetic markers and single-nucleotide polymorphism between the Sri Lankan Tamils and other ethnic groups in Sri Lanka.[5][6][7] Another study has also found "no significant genetic variation among the major ethnic groups in Sri Lanka".[8] This is further supported by a study which found very similar frequencies of alleles MTHFR 677T, F2 20210A & F5 1691A in South Indian Tamil, Sinhalese, Sri Lankan Tamil and Moor populations.[9]

However, another study looking at Alu polymorphism,[10] VNTR[11] and genetic distance[2] have found the genetic relationship between the South Indian Tamil and Sinhalese to be much smaller than Kshatriya's findings (11–30%).

Dr Sarabjit Mastanain finding states cophenetic correlation was 0.8956 and it indicates Sinhalese & Tamil as native population. Also, it reflects on genetic distance among five populations of Sri Lanka as per given below eigenvector plot of the R-matrix.[12] Template:Clade

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Kshatriya, G.K. (1995). "Genetic affinities of Sri Lankan populations". Human Biology. 67 (6). American Association of Anthropological Genetics: 843–66. PMID 8543296.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Kirk, R. L. (1976). "The legend of Prince Vijaya — a study of Sinhalese origins". American Journal of Physical Anthropology. 45 (1): 91–99. doi:10.1002/ajpa.1330450112.
  3. ↑ Yalman, Nur (1 January 1962). "The Structure of the Sinhalese Kindred: A Re-Examination of the Dravidian Terminology". American Anthropologist. 64 (3): 548–575. doi:10.1525/aa.1962.64.3.02a00060. JSTOR 667927.
  4. ↑ Soejima M, Koda Y (December 2005). "Denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography-based genotyping and genetic variation of FUT2 in Sri Lanka". Transfusion. 45 (12): 1934–9. doi:10.1111/j.1537-2995.2005.00651.x. PMID 16371047. S2CID 10401001.
  5. ↑ Roberts, D. F.; Creen, C. K.; Abeyaratne, K. P. (1 January 1972). "Blood Groups of the Sinhalese". Man. 7 (1): 122–127. doi:10.2307/2799860. JSTOR 2799860.
  6. ↑ Saha, N. (1988). "Blood genetic markers in Sri Lankan populations—reappraisal of the legend of Prince Vijaya". American Journal of Physical Anthropology. 76 (2): 217–25. doi:10.1002/ajpa.1330760210. PMID 3166342.
  7. ↑ Dissanayake VH, Giles V, Jayasekara RW, et al. (April 2009). "A study of three candidate genes for pre-eclampsia in a Sinhalese population from Sri Lanka". The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research. 35 (2): 234–42. doi:10.1111/j.1447-0756.2008.00926.x. PMID 19708171. S2CID 24958292.
  8. ↑ Ruwan J. Illeperuma, Samudi N. Mohotti, Thilini M. De Silva, Neil D. Fernandopulle, W.D. Ratnasooriya, Genetic profile of 11 autosomal STR loci among the four major ethnic groups in Sri Lanka, Forensic Science International: Genetics, Volume 3, Issue 3, June 2009, Pages e105-e106
  9. ↑ Vajira H.W. Dissanayake, Lakshini Y. Weerasekera, C. Gayani Gammulla, Rohan W. Jayasekara, Prevalence of genetic thrombophilic polymorphisms in the Sri Lankan population – implications for association study design and clinical genetic testing services, Experimental and Molecular Pathology, Volume 87, Issue 2, October 2009, Pages 159–162
  10. ↑ http://www.krepublishers.com/06-Special%20Volume-Journal/T-Anth-00-Special%20Volumes/T-Anth-SI-03-Anth-Today-Web/Anth-SI-03-29-Mastana-S/Anth-SI-03-29-Mastana-S-Tt.pdf Template:Bare URL PDF
  11. ↑ Papiha SS, Mastana SS, Purandare CA, Jayasekara R, Chakraborty R (October 1996). "Population genetic study of three VNTR loci (D2S44, D7S22, and D12S11) in five ethnically defined populations of the Indian subcontinent". Human Biology. 68 (5): 819–35. PMID 8908803.
  12. ↑ Mastana, Sarabjit (November 1996). "Genetic variation in Sri Lanka". Scientific Reports. 68 (5): 26–27. PMID 8908798.

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