History of Human Population Genetics of Central America

Sumario: To frame and evaluate contributions to the development of human population genetics studies in Central America we summarize, classify, and compare the most relevant literature published since the beginning of the twentieth century. The development of human population genetics in Central America is a continuation of studies of morphological variation. From the 1920s to 1960s, emphasis was placed on morphology and the biochemical differences of local indigenous populations. From the 1970s to the 1990s, new serological discoveries made microevolutionary studies possible among indigenous and Afro- Caribbean populations. The molecular genetics investigations that were initiated in the 1990s started a new era of the examination of novel evolutionary questions in the twenty- first century. During this period, use of a wide variety of informative markers enabled the unraveling of demographic histories of national and indigenous populations. Despite steady development of population genetics in Central America over the past century, differences exist in the quantity and quality of investigations in this geographic area. Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panama are the most frequently studied countries in comparison with Guatemala, Honduras, Belize, and El Salvador. It is hoped that future research improves this disparity.