Not surprisingly, the African-American person has genetic roots in both West Africa and Europe, as recently reported at a meeting of the Genetics Society of America.

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Researchers surveyed the genomes for single DNA “letter” variations called single nucleotide polymorphisms, or SNPs, which can serve as markers of diversity. About 12 percent of the SNPs found in parts of the genome the Mexican-American person inherited from Native American ancestors have not been found in any other person, Bustamante reported. That is about the same percentage of new SNPs that researchers found when they cataloged Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s genetic blueprint (SN: 3/13/10, p. 16) earlier this year.

Based on such findings, the 1000 Genomes Project — an effort to compile a complete catalog of human genetic diversity — has already been expanded to include more Native Americans, Bustamante says.

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