Diversity in protein, nuclear DNA, and mtDNA in South Amerinds--agreement or discrepancy?

Two sets of markers and populations were considered in this study: (a) the variability at 17 protein loci and in the sequences of the first hypervariable segment of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) were compared in 10 South American Indian tribes, in a total 3016 and 241 individuals, respectively; and (b) a triple comparison was made, in relation to 17 protein, mtDNA and six hypervariable tandem repeat loci in four Brazilian Indian tribes, involving 1567, 56 and 194 persons, respectively. Both the intrapopulational diversities and the population relationships obtained in these groups with these different sets of markers showed no significant correlation. High levels of heterogeneity were observed both at the protein and hypervariable individual loci, as well between mtDNA sites. The different positions observed for the Yanomama (but not for the other nine tribes) in the trees which summarized the protein and mtDNA data suggest some degree of asymmetric interchange related to sex between them and neighbouring tribes.