Genomic Profile of the Rongmei (Kabui) tribe of Manipur, India

The present study tries to explore the genomic profile of Rongmei tribe of Manipur, through autosomal and mitochondrial DNA. A comparative analysis with other neighboring populations is expected to provide more additional insights on the ongoing notion of North East India acting as a barrier or corridor. These tribesmen have been staying in the valley areas of Manipur with other tribal and non-tribal populations, with possibility of intermarriages among them. The population is in Hardy Weinberg equilibrium. Both autosomal and mitochondrial DNA markers reveal a much closer genetic resemblance with East Asian populations especially those with Chinese, which further supports the mythologically claimed migratory history of the population. These similarities support the notion of North East India acting as a barrier in early human migrations to East Asia, though it cannot rule out the inflow of mongoloids from East Asia to India. Moreover, the present study provides a basic substratum for further clinical association studies among the Manipur and East Asian populations.