Post by djoser-xyyman on Jul 7, 2011 7:00:53 GMT -5
Demographic history of Canary Islands male gene-pool:
replacement of native lineages by European
Rosa Fregel*1, Verónica Gomes2,3, Leonor Gusmão2, Ana M González1,
Vicente M Cabrera1, António Amorim2 and Jose M Larruga1
Background: The origin and prevalence of the prehispanic settlers of the Canary Islands has
attracted great multidisciplinary interest. However, direct ancient DNA genetic studies on
indigenous and historical 17th–18th century remains, using mitochondrial DNA as a female marker,
have only recently been possible. In the present work, the analysis of Y-chromosome
polymorphisms in the same samples, has shed light on the way the European colonization affected
male and female Canary Island indigenous genetic pools, from the conquest to present-day times.
Results: Autochthonous (E-M81) and prominent (E-M78 and J-M267) Berber Y-chromosome
lineages were detected in the indigenous remains, confirming a North West African origin for their
ancestors which confirms previous mitochondrial DNA results. However, in contrast with their
female lineages, which have survived in the present-day population since the conquest with only a
moderate decline, the male indigenous lineages have dropped constantly being substituted by
European lineages. Male and female sub-Saharan African genetic inputs were also detected in the
Canary population, but their frequencies were higher during the 17th–18th centuries than today.
Conclusion: The European colonization of the Canary Islands introduced a strong sex-biased
change in the indigenous population in such a way that indigenous female lineages survived in the
extant population in a significantly higher proportion than their male counterparts.
replacement of native lineages by European
Rosa Fregel*1, Verónica Gomes2,3, Leonor Gusmão2, Ana M González1,
Vicente M Cabrera1, António Amorim2 and Jose M Larruga1
Background: The origin and prevalence of the prehispanic settlers of the Canary Islands has
attracted great multidisciplinary interest. However, direct ancient DNA genetic studies on
indigenous and historical 17th–18th century remains, using mitochondrial DNA as a female marker,
have only recently been possible. In the present work, the analysis of Y-chromosome
polymorphisms in the same samples, has shed light on the way the European colonization affected
male and female Canary Island indigenous genetic pools, from the conquest to present-day times.
Results: Autochthonous (E-M81) and prominent (E-M78 and J-M267) Berber Y-chromosome
lineages were detected in the indigenous remains, confirming a North West African origin for their
ancestors which confirms previous mitochondrial DNA results. However, in contrast with their
female lineages, which have survived in the present-day population since the conquest with only a
moderate decline, the male indigenous lineages have dropped constantly being substituted by
European lineages. Male and female sub-Saharan African genetic inputs were also detected in the
Canary population, but their frequencies were higher during the 17th–18th centuries than today.
Conclusion: The European colonization of the Canary Islands introduced a strong sex-biased
change in the indigenous population in such a way that indigenous female lineages survived in the
extant population in a significantly higher proportion than their male counterparts.
Attachments:
