Vol.:(0123456789) 1 3 Molecular Genetics and Genomics https://doi.org/10.1007/s00438-019-01644-x ORIGINAL ARTICLE Paternal genetic history of the Yong population in northern Thailand revealed by Y‑chromosomal haplotypes and haplogroups Jatupol Kampuansai 1,2  · Wibhu Kutanan 3  · Eszter Dudás 4  · Andrea Vágó‑Zalán 4  · Anikó Galambos 4  · Horolma Pamjav 4 Received: 16 May 2019 / Accepted: 26 December 2019 © Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2020 Abstract We have determined the distribution of Y-chromosomal haplotypes and haplogroups in the Yong population, one of the largest and well-known ethnic groups that began migrating southward from China to Thailand centuries ago. Their unique mass migration pattern provided great opportunities for researchers to study the genetic links of the transboundary migra- tion movements among the peoples of China, Myanmar and Thailand. We analysed relevant male-specifc markers, such as Y-STRs and Y-SNPs, and the distribution of 23 Y-STRs of 111 Yong individuals and 116 nearby ethnic groups including the Shan, Northern Thai, Lawa, Lua, Skaw, Pwo and Padong groups. We found that the general haplogroup distribution values were similar among diferent populations; however, the haplogroups O1b-M268 and O2-M112 constituted the vast major- ity of these values. In contrast with previous maternal lineage studies, the paternal lineage of the Yong did not relate to the Xishuangbanna Dai people, who represent their historically documented ancestors. However, they did display a close genetic afnity to other prehistoric Tai-Kadai speaking groups in China such as the Zhuang and Bouyei. Low degrees of genetic admixture within the populations who belonged to the Austroasiatic and Sino-Tibetan linguistic families were observed in the gene pool of the Yong populations. Resettlement in northern Thailand in the early part of the nineteenth century AD, by way of mass migration trend, was able to preserve the Yong’s ancestral genetic background in terms of the way they had previously lived in China and Myanmar. Our study has revealed similar genetic structures among ethnic populations in northern Thailand and southern China, and has identifed and emphasized an ancient Tai-Kadai patrilineal ancestry line in the Yong ethnic group. Keywords Y haplotypes and haplogroups · Yong ethnic groups in Thailand · Human demographic history Introduction Northern Thailand is geographically located on the cross- roads of human migration among 4 Southeast Asian coun- tries; China, Myanmar, Laos and Thailand. This region, in general, consists of fertile plains rimmed by mountain ranges. These fertile plains help to support a large number of the region’s inhabitants. Archaeological and historical records indicate that this area has been occupied by various ethnic groups ever since the prehistoric period. According to a recent analysis of ancient genomes, the northern part of Thailand and nearby areas were involved in three important waves of human migration that occurred through Southeast Asia: the arrival of the hunter gatherers about 45,000 years ago, the Neolithic expansion of farmers from China approxi- mately 4500 years ago, and the Bronze Age migration from Communicated by Stefan Hohmann. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (https://doi.org/10.1007/s00438-019-01644-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. * Horolma Pamjav phorolma@hotmail.com 1 Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand 2 Center of Excellence in Bioresources for Agriculture, Industry and Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand 3 Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand 4 Department of Reference Sample Analysis, Institute of Forensic Genetics, Hungarian Institute for Forensic Sciences, Budapest, Hungary