Genes and languages in Europe: an analysis of mitochondrial lineages.

Abstract

When mitochondrial DNA sequence variation is analyzed from a sample of 637 individuals in 14 European populations, most populations show little differentiation with respect to each other. However, the Saami distinguish themselves by a comparatively large amount of sequence difference when compared with the other populations, by a different distribution of sequence diversity within the population, and by the occurrence of particular sequence motifs. Thus, the Saami seem to have a long history distinct from other European populations. Linguistic affiliations are not reflected in the patterns of relationships of mitochondrial lineages in European populations, whereas prior studies of nuclear gene frequencies have shown a correlation between genetic and linguistic evolution. It is argued that this apparent contradiction is attributable to the fact that genetic lineages and gene frequencies reflect different time perspectives on population history, the latter being more in concordance with linguistic evolution.

Northwest Siberian Khanty and Mansi in the junction of West and East Eurasian gene pools as revealed by uniparental markers

“…A similar pattern is detected within the U5a haplogroup with the highest diversity in Northeast Europe (0.930 ± 0.015), followed by Northwest Siberia (0.713 ± 0.083) and South Siberia (0.524 ± 0.209). By contrast, the Northeast European U5b subhaplogroup, including the U5b1b1 'Saami motif', 25,29 was not observed among Northwest Siberians except the Samoyedic-speaking Nganasan (1.9%). The U7 subhaplogroup was found only among the Northwest Siberian Khanty (14.2%) and Mansi (3.2 -5.1%), Central Asian Uighur (4.2%) and Northeast European Finns (0.5%).…”

“…Two sequences were excluded: an L2 sequence in the Norwegian sample 27 and one sequence with unclear haplogroup definition in the Karelian sample. 25 The approximate locations of all the 42 mtDNA population samples used in this study are shown in Figure 1a.…”

“…Haplogroup classification was obtained from the original sources and refined according to the criteria used for the Khanty and Mansi samples. Thus, the S sequences 15 were reclassified as M8a 19 and the Saami HVS-I sequences 25 were reclassified according to Bandelt et al 26 For the analysis, some sequences were clustered into major haplogroups: N1a and b into N1; W and N2a into N2; H and HV1 into HV as well as V into haplogroup HV0. Furthermore, sequences classified neither as M7, M8, M9, M10 and M13, nor as the major N or R haplogroups were considered to represent haplogroup M*.…”

Genetic evidence for a family-based Scandinavian settlement of Shetland and Orkney during the Viking periods

“…In addition to samples typed by the authors for this study, the following previously published mtDNA HVS1 sequences were used: 398 Icelanders (Helgason et al, 2000b), 551 Icelanders (Helgason et al, 2003), 39 Icelanders (Sajantila et al, 1995), 78 Orkney Islanders (Helgason et al, 2001), 664 inland Scots (Helgason et al, 2001), 216 northwestern coastal Scots (Helgason et al, 2001), 226 inhabitants from the Western Isles and the Isle of Skye (Helgason et al, 2001), 105 Irish (Richards et al, 2000), 216 Norwegians (Opdal et al, 1998), 324 Norwegians (Helgason et al, 2001), 74 Norwegians (Passarino et al, 2002), 28 Swedes (Kittles et al, 1999) and 32 Swedes (Sajantila et al, 1996). The following previously published Y-chromosome haplotypes were also used: 181 Icelanders (Helgason et al, 2000a), 12 Danes (Helgason et al, 2000a), 221 Irish (Helgason et al, 2000a), one Irish (Hurles et al, 1999), 110 Norwegians (Helgason et al, 2000a), two Norwegians (Hurles et al, 1999), 78 Norwegians (Wilson et al, 2001), 71 Orkney Islanders (Wilson et al, 2001) and 109 Swedes (Zerjal et al, 2001).…”

A genome-wide association study for age-related hearing impairment in the Saami

“…14 Several genetic studies have been conducted to shed light on the genetic origin of the Saami. [15][16][17][18] These studies suggested that the Saami are descendants of Europeans who, several thousand years ago, reached northern Fennoscandia from both a western and an eastern route and subsequently got admixed. They also found a small East Asian contribution to the gene pool.…”