Polynesia
Slave trade from Americas
Since Thor Heyerdahl asserted that Polynesia was first colonized from the Americas (Heyerdahl 1950), geneticists have sought—but have not found—any evidence to support his theories. (12644966)
Native American Y chromosomes are detected on the Polynesian island of Rapa. However, this, together with other odd features of the island’s Y-chromosomal gene pool, is best explained as the genetic impact of a 19th century Peruvian slave trade in Polynesia. (12644966)
References
Kayser M, Lao O, Saar K, Brauer S, Wang X, Nürnberg P, Trent RJ, Stoneking M. Genome-wide analysis indicates more Asian than Melanesian ancestry of Polynesians. Am J Hum Genet. 2008 Jan;82(1):194-8.PMID: 18179899
Hurles ME, Maund E, Nicholson J, Bosch E, Renfrew C, Sykes BC, Jobling MA. Native American Y chromosomes in Polynesia: the genetic impact of the Polynesian slave trade. Am J Hum Genet. 2003 May;72(5):1282-7. PMID: 12644966
Bonatto SL, Redd AJ, Salzano FM, Stoneking M. Lack of ancient Polynesian-Amerindian contact. Am J Hum Genet. 1996 Jul;59(1):253-8. PMID: 8659533
Bonatto SL, Redd AJ, Salzano FM, Stoneking M. Lack of ancient Polynesian-Amerindian contact. Am J Hum Genet. 1996 Jul;59(1):253-8. PMID: 8659533