Abstract
The population of Norfolk Island, located off the eastern coast of Australia, possesses an unusual and fascinating history. Most present-day islanders are related to a small number of the Bounty mutineer founders. These founders consisted of Caucasian males and Polynesian females and led to an admixed present-day population. By examining a single large pedigree of 5742 individuals, spanning >200 years, we analyzed the influence of admixture and founder effect on various cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related traits. On account of the relative isolation of the population, on average one-third of the genomes of present-day islanders (single large pedigree individuals) is derived from 17 initial founders. The proportion of Polynesian ancestry in the present-day individuals was found to significantly influence total triglycerides, body mass index, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. For various cholesterol traits, the influence of ancestry was less marked but overall the direction of effect for all CVD-related traits was consistent with Polynesian ancestry conferring greater CVD risk. Marker-derived homozygosity was computed and agreed with measures of inbreeding derived from pedigree information. Founder effect (inbreeding and marker-derived homozygosity) significantly influenced height. In conclusion, both founder effect and extreme admixture have substantially influenced the genetic architecture of a variety of CVD-related traits in this population.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 67-72 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | European Journal of Human Genetics |
| Volume | 18 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 2010 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Genetics(clinical)
- Genetics
- Medicine(all)
Cite this
Legacy of mutiny on the Bounty : Founder effect and admixture on Norfolk Island. / MacGregor, Stuart; Bellis, Claire; Lea, Rod A.; Cox, Hannah; Dyer, Tom; Blangero, John; Visscher, Peter M.; Griffiths, Lyn R.
In: European Journal of Human Genetics, Vol. 18, No. 1, 01.2010, p. 67-72.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Legacy of mutiny on the Bounty
T2 - Founder effect and admixture on Norfolk Island
AU - MacGregor, Stuart
AU - Bellis, Claire
AU - Lea, Rod A.
AU - Cox, Hannah
AU - Dyer, Tom
AU - Blangero, John
AU - Visscher, Peter M.
AU - Griffiths, Lyn R.
PY - 2010/1
Y1 - 2010/1
N2 - The population of Norfolk Island, located off the eastern coast of Australia, possesses an unusual and fascinating history. Most present-day islanders are related to a small number of the Bounty mutineer founders. These founders consisted of Caucasian males and Polynesian females and led to an admixed present-day population. By examining a single large pedigree of 5742 individuals, spanning >200 years, we analyzed the influence of admixture and founder effect on various cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related traits. On account of the relative isolation of the population, on average one-third of the genomes of present-day islanders (single large pedigree individuals) is derived from 17 initial founders. The proportion of Polynesian ancestry in the present-day individuals was found to significantly influence total triglycerides, body mass index, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. For various cholesterol traits, the influence of ancestry was less marked but overall the direction of effect for all CVD-related traits was consistent with Polynesian ancestry conferring greater CVD risk. Marker-derived homozygosity was computed and agreed with measures of inbreeding derived from pedigree information. Founder effect (inbreeding and marker-derived homozygosity) significantly influenced height. In conclusion, both founder effect and extreme admixture have substantially influenced the genetic architecture of a variety of CVD-related traits in this population.
AB - The population of Norfolk Island, located off the eastern coast of Australia, possesses an unusual and fascinating history. Most present-day islanders are related to a small number of the Bounty mutineer founders. These founders consisted of Caucasian males and Polynesian females and led to an admixed present-day population. By examining a single large pedigree of 5742 individuals, spanning >200 years, we analyzed the influence of admixture and founder effect on various cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related traits. On account of the relative isolation of the population, on average one-third of the genomes of present-day islanders (single large pedigree individuals) is derived from 17 initial founders. The proportion of Polynesian ancestry in the present-day individuals was found to significantly influence total triglycerides, body mass index, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. For various cholesterol traits, the influence of ancestry was less marked but overall the direction of effect for all CVD-related traits was consistent with Polynesian ancestry conferring greater CVD risk. Marker-derived homozygosity was computed and agreed with measures of inbreeding derived from pedigree information. Founder effect (inbreeding and marker-derived homozygosity) significantly influenced height. In conclusion, both founder effect and extreme admixture have substantially influenced the genetic architecture of a variety of CVD-related traits in this population.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77449132163&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=77449132163&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1038/ejhg.2009.111
DO - 10.1038/ejhg.2009.111
M3 - Article
C2 - 19584896
AN - SCOPUS:77449132163
VL - 18
SP - 67
EP - 72
JO - European Journal of Human Genetics
JF - European Journal of Human Genetics
SN - 1018-4813
IS - 1
ER -