Mitochondrial DNA characterisation of European isolates: The Maragatos from Spain

Abstract

Mitochondrial DNA analysis confirms that Maragatos from Spain are a genetically isolated human group. Genetic distances between Maragatos and the comparison samples are significantly different even with the Leo  n sample (P50.001) which shares the same geographic area as the Maragatos. Although the northAfrican haplogroup U6 is present in them, their attributed Berber origin is weakened, as this haplogroup is also detected in surrounding populations with which, in addition, Maragatos have the smaller genetic distances. These U6 haplotypes are ascribed to a pre-historic African colonisation that influenced all the Iberian Peninsula. The presence of Neolithic haplogroups in this sample suggests that their isolation culture was not absolute until recent times. European Journal of Human Genetics (2001) 9, 708 ± 716.

Y Chromosome and Mitochondrial DNA Characterization of Pasiegos, a Human Isolate from Cantabria (Spain)

“…Besides, pooled Cantabrians harbour a peculiar M1 sequence characterised by a back mutation in position 16223 that is one of the HV1 diagnostic positions of the haplogroup; they also included two individuals carrying an L2 sequence that is identical in two Pasiegos and has also been found in the African archipelago of Cabo Verde (Brehm et al 2002). Nonetheless, summing up the percentage of putative African sequences in these samples (2% in pooled Cantabrians and 4% in Pasiegos) it is rather similar to those found in other areas of the Iberian Peninsula González et al 2003;Larruga et al 2001;Pereira et al 2000;Salas et al 1998). The comparison of Cantabrian samples to adjacent populations (Table 5) reinforces the haplogroup frequency differentiation of Pasiegos and pooled Cantabrians from the rest of populations, including Lebaniegos, by their comparatively high frequencies of V and low frequencies of H. The exclusive presence of U5a representatives in Basques is unique in the Cantabrian edge.…”

“…1) were as follows: 82 Pasiegos from any of the Three Pasiego Villas at the southern border of the current province of Cantabria, 72 Lebaniegos (inhabitants from Potes and surround, a small western Cantabrian locality near to Asturias), and a pool of 88 non-Pasiego and non-Lebaniego Cantabrians from different localities. In addition, published data from nearby populations were incorporated in comparative analyses: 45 Spanish Basques (Underhill et al 2000) 90 Asturians and 19 additional Pasiegos were used for Y-chromosome comparisons, and 135 Galicians and 167 Basques, as detailed elsewhere (Larruga et al 2001), were used in the mtDNA analysis.…”

Reduced genetic structure of the Iberian peninsula revealed by Y-chromosome analysis: implications for population demography

“…54 Moreover, haplotypes belonging to the Northwest African U6 mtDNA cluster have been found in Galicia and Northern Portugal, but are rare or absent in Southern areas. 15,25,29 Some authors consider that, at least in part, this Northwest African influence was a consequence of prehistoric links between Iberians and North Africans. 55,56 As such, the coincident dispersion of Northwest African Y-chromosomes in Northern and Southern parts of Iberia is a matter that needs further consideration.…”

Reconstructing the phylogeny of African mitochondrial DNA lineages in Slavs

“…3 In addition, the medieval Arab/Berber conquest of Iberia might have also contributed to this process. 5,6 As for eastern Europe, it seems that only African children's traffic from Turkey to Russia at the end of seventeenth century might have played the leading role in African slave trade. 7 African children were bought on the Ottoman markets by Russian traders who brought them to Russia.…”