| Abstract: |
The genetic history of the West Malaysian Orang Asli, or "first people," is only partially known. Few of the 19 or more ethnolinguistic groups have been studied. This work has found variation at the protein level and the DNA level. Genetical questions of broad interest include (1) the relationships among Orang Asli and (2) their relative affinities to other Asians. Both within and between Orang Asli groups, close neighbors can have large differences in allele frequencies, indicating ethnic microdifferentiation. Taking a larger perspective, a few groups have been compared genetically to other Southeast Asians, as well as to people elsewhere. Overall, these broad comparisons slow Orang Asli to be distinctive from other Malaysians and other Southeast Asians. At the same time, Orang Asli fall into genetic alignment regionally between more northerly continental groups and insular groups to the south and east in important respects. Historically, Orang Asli distinctiveness can be ascribed in large part to small effective population size and continuous selection pressures. The cohesiveness of Orang Asli cultures and gene pools has long maintained an array of alleles at relatively high frequencies that provide resistance to endemic disease. Related cultural and genetic attributes suggest a long tenure by Orang Asli in the rainforest environment.
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