Rh Negative Tribes: The Kalash People of Pakistan

Genetic analysis of Y-chromosome DNA (Y-DNA) by Firasat et al. (2007) on Kalash individuals found high and diverse frequencies of these Y-DNA Haplogroups: L3a (22.7%), H1* (20.5%), R1a (18.2%), G (18.2%), J2 (9.1%), R* (6.8%), R1* (2.3%), and L* (2.3%).

Genetic analysis of Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) by Quintana-Murci et al. (2004) stated that “the western Eurasian presence in the Kalash population reaches a frequency of 100%” with the most prevalent mtDNA Haplogroups being U4 (34%), R0 (23%), U2e (16%), and J2 (9%). The study asserted that no East or South Asian lineages were detected and that the Kalash population is composed of western Eurasian lineages (as the associated lineages are rare or absent in the surrounding populations). The authors concluded that a western Eurasian origin for the Kalash is likely, in view of their maternal lineages.

A study of ASPM gene variants by Mekel-Bobrov et al. (2005) found that the Kalash people of Pakistan have among the highest rate of the newly evolved ASPM Haplogroup D, at 60% occurrence of the approximately 6,000-year-old allele. The Kalash also have been shown to exhibit the exceedingly rare 19 allele value at autosomal marker D9S1120 at a frequency higher than the majority of other world populations which do have it.

A study by Rosenberg et al. (2006) employing genetic testing among the Kalash population concluded that they are a distinct (and perhaps aboriginal) population with only minor contributions from outside peoples. In one cluster analysis with (K = 7), the Kalash formed one cluster, the others being Africans, Europeans, Middle Easterners, South Asians, East Asians, Melanesians, and Native Americans.

A study by Li et al. (2008) with geneticists using more than 650,000 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) samples from the Human Genome Diversity Panel, found deep rooted lineages that could be distinguished in the Kalash. The results showed them clustered within the Central/South Asian populations at (K = 7). The study also showed the Kalash to be a separated group, having no membership within European populations.

When reading up on the Kalash people, I couldn’t find much regarding the Rh factor that stood out.

They are however important connecting many dots from the past.

A small study from Wah Cantt, Pakistan shows 26.1% Rh(D) negatives, but larger studies are needed.

Wah has the highest literacy rate in all of Asia, effectively 100%. This small city has two chartered universities, one medical college, one engineering college and many schools and colleges. Students from Wah Cantt can be found studying at all the institutes of Pakistan and most major universities of the world. Wah Cantt also has the largest number of bicycles in any city in Pakistan. This links the city with its past as, historically, the neighbouring town of Taxila had been a seat of learning for thousands of years.

All of this is part of the journey connecting the dots to trace back which parts of our ancestries may have been responsible for our rh negative blood and what we can learn from them in terms of improving our lives.

Looking at the overall genetic make-up, it could possibly be that the Kalash people of today are descendants of an ancient tribe high in rh negative frequencies, but since then having mixed with so many other populations, the rh negative frequencies declined significantly.

Rather than just being extended family, this tribe appears to be made up of several, so unless we can separate ancestries and examine individual families, not much progress in terms of connecting rh negative blood and their ancestries can be made.

See also:

Rh Negative Tribes