Sergio Danilo Pena

Study reveals origins of African Brazilians

RIO DE JANEIRO -- A study released on Monday showed that Africa's Central Western region mostly contributed to the genetic formation of African Brazilians.

According to research carried out by the geneticist Sergio Danilo Pena, who teaches biochemistry at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), 44.5 percent of the samples of genetic material studied, indicated that the individuals were related to ancestors from the region, which currently includes Angola, Congo and Cameroon.

Another 43 percent had roots in Western Africa, where countries like Nigeria, Ghana, Togo and Cote d'Ivoire are located, and 12.3 percent had ancestors in Southeast Africa, in the region of Mozambique.

The study analyzed the mitochondrial DNA, which remains the same over centuries, unless some genetic mutation takes place at some point. This determines an individual's ancestors on the mother's side, while the chromosome Y reveals ancestry on the
father's side.

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