What is an Ethnic Group? A Biological Perspective

Macbeth, Helen

doi:10.1007/978-1-349-25882-6_4

Cited by 7 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…In fact, as was recently shown by empirical studies (Chaix et al, 2007; Marchani et al, 2008), it has been emphasized that these are cultural and social factors shaping the genetic diversity, rather than genetics acting on cultural and social structures (e.g. Benoist, 1966; Macbeth, 1993, 1997; Marks, 1995; Cavalli‐Sforza, 1997). In order to study a multiethnic population, introducing an ethno‐historical questionnaire during the sampling period is critical to achieving an accurate reflection of its colonisation history and subsequent admixtures.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Inter‐ and Extra‐Indian Admixture and Genetic Diversity in Reunion Island Revealed by Analysis of Mitochondrial DNA

Dubut

Murail

Lévy

et al. 2009

Annals of Human Genetics

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SummaryReunion Island is a French territory located in the western Indian Ocean. The genetic pattern of the Reunionese population has been shaped by contributions from highly contrasting regions of the world. Over the last 350 years, several migration waves and cultural and socio-economic factors have led to the emergence of six main ethnic groups in Reunion. India is one of the principal regions that contributed to the setting up of the Reunionese population. Diversity, demographic and admixture analyses were performed on mtDNA variation of the Reunionese of Indian ancestry, including the Malbar and Zarab ethnic groups, in order to question their history. Using a phylogeographical approach, we generated and analysed quantitative data on the contribution of the Indian parental populations. Furthermore, we showed that the settlement of Reunion Island by Indians did not involve a founder effect, except in the very beginning of the Reunionese settlement (at the end of the 17 th century). The accuracy of our results was optimised by a re-evaluation of the classification of the Southern Asian mtDNA haplogroups. Finally, by comparing our results to a previous study dealing with the Reunionese population, we highlighted how ethno-historical data are critical for reconstructing the complex history of multiethnic populations.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Inter‐ and Extra‐Indian Admixture and Genetic Diversity in Reunion Island Revealed by Analysis of Mitochondrial DNA

Dubut

Murail

Lévy

et al. 2009

Annals of Human Genetics

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“…In political and social discussions in Europe, ethnicity and nationality have become important topics, but most people's ethnic identity is not as clear-cut as some political pressure groups promote (Macbeth 1996). The geneticist should recall that the sentiments sometimes claimed by individuals are not necessarily reflected in their actual marriage patterns.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Cerdanya: mountain valley, genetic highway

Macbeth

Salvat

Vigo

et al. 1996

Annals of Human Biology

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In this paper the records of 7844 marriages in the parishes of French and Spanish sectors of the Cerdanya Valley have been analysed. The Cerdanya is an eastern Pyrenean valley, today divided by the Franco-Spanish border, but once united within Catalonia. The results have been reported on the one hand on a small scale using local place names, and on the other hand on a wider scale across France and Spain, because interest lies both in the geographic range from which some marital partners have come and in the relative proportions of brides and grooms from the French and Spanish parts of Cerdanya and from adjacent districts. Both mountains and the Franco-Spanish border are shown to have reduced the likelihood of marriage. Inaccessible mountain barriers appear to have been a greater obstacle to marital movement than the border. Adjacent districts and local provinces have provided a greater proportion of brides and grooms than more distant ones, but thereafter frequencies from the further regions do not decrease with greater distance. More marital partners have moved from Spain to France than vice-versa, and mobility of grooms exceeded mobility of brides. Results are relevant to genetics and the current European interest in nationality and ethnicity.

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“…However, this sort of syllogistic argument relating genes, language, and culture does not necessarily work. While language or culture can serve as genetic barriers, thereby leading to biologically and socio‐culturally differentiated populations, these boundaries are not defined based on scientific ‘facts’ but on perceived socio‐cultural and/or biological differences such as ‘ethnicity’ or ‘race’ (see Mirza and Dungworth 1995; Macbeth 1997). Indeed, there are many famous examples of significant linguistic transitions marked by little cultural or genetic distinction, e.g.…”

Section: Molecular Anthropologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Genes, language, and culture: an example from the tarim basin

Thornton¹,

Schurr²

2004

Oxford J Archaeology

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The Tarim Basin 'mummies' of western China continue to fascinate scholars and the general public alike due to their 'Caucasoid' features, wellpreserved material culture, and putative 'European' origins. However, there have been some uncritical efforts to link these archaeological cultures to those of other ancient Eurasian groups (e.g. the Celts) by applying syllogistic reasoning to multi-disciplinary evidence. In an attempt to provide a more cautious synthesis of the prehistory of the Tarim Basin, this paper will briefly summarize the archaeological, physical, and linguistic evidence that has been used to model human settlement of this region. These data will then be related to recent molecular anthropology research on modern populations of Central Asia, focusing especially on the Uighur in relation to their neighbours. While the genetic history of the modern peoples of a particular region is not necessarily related to their prehistoric antecedents, it is argued that the Tarim Basin experienced a surprising cultural and biological continuity despite immigration from both east and west into Xinjiang Province. This conclusion has a number of possible political ramifications in the present day that must be addressed in future literature on the subject.

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What is an Ethnic Group? A Biological Perspective

Cited by 7 publications

References 9 publications

Inter‐ and Extra‐Indian Admixture and Genetic Diversity in Reunion Island Revealed by Analysis of Mitochondrial DNA

Inter‐ and Extra‐Indian Admixture and Genetic Diversity in Reunion Island Revealed by Analysis of Mitochondrial DNA

Cerdanya: mountain valley, genetic highway

Genes, language, and culture: an example from the tarim basin

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