The Genetic History of Indigenous Populations of the Peruvian and Bolivian Altiplano: The Legacy of the Uros

Uros populations of the Peruvian and Bolivian Altiplano exhibit distinct genetic ancestry, differing significantly from both Amazon Arawaks and other Andean groups like Aymara and Quechua. While they share closer ties with Aymara and Quechua from Lake Titicaca, Uros populations in Peru and Bolivia show high genetic differentiation, suggesting a unique legacy derived from ancient Andean lineages that predated later farming expansions and civilizations. The study employed phylogeographic, population structure, and spatial genetic analyses of Y-chromosome and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) data to uncover these relationships, revealing the Uros as a genetically distinct ethnic group with deep roots in the Andes.

Sandoval, J. R., Lacerda, D. R., Jota, M. S. A., Salazar-Granara, A., Vieira, P. P. R., Acosta, O., Cuellar, C., Revollo, S., Fujita, R., Santos, F. R.,. (2013). The Genetic History of Indigenous Populations of the Peruvian and Bolivian Altiplano: The Legacy of the Uros. PLoS ONE, 8(9), e73006. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0073006