Posted: Thu 08 May 2008 21:53 Post subject: African mtDNA in Slavic Populations of Eastern Europe
Reconstructing the phylogeny of African
mitochondrial DNA lineages in Slavs
Boris A Malyarchuk et. al
To elucidate the origin of African-specific mtDNA lineages, revealed previously in Slavonic populations (at frequency of about 0.4%), we completely sequenced eight African genomes belonging to haplogroups L1b, L2a, L3b, L3d and M1 gathered from Russians, Czechs, Slovaks and Poles. Results of phylogeographic analysis suggest that at least part of the African mtDNA lineages found in Slavs (such as L1b, L3b1, L3d)
appears to be of West African origin, testifying to an opportunity of their occurrence as a result of migrations to Eastern Europe through Iberia. However, a prehistoric introgression of African mtDNA lineages into Eastern Europe (approximately 10 000 years ago) seems to be probable only for Europeanspecific subclade L2a1a, defined by coding region mutations at positions 6722 and 12903 and detected in Czechs and Slovaks. Further studies of the nature of African admixture in gene pools of Europeans require the essential enlargement of databases of African complete mitochondrial genomes.
European Journal of Human Genetics advance 9 April 2008;
Joined: 30 Mar 2005 {Posts: 1082 } Location: New Jersey
Posted: Fri 09 May 2008 15:31 Post subject:
Thank you, this is interesting. Do you have a link for this? I'd be interested in reading the full study.
Some of the West African lineages the authors presume entered central and eastern Europe through Iberia could have disseminated from the Italian Peninsula as well, due to the diverse peoples who inhabited it in Roman times. They could have been brought further north by Roman invaders into Germania, Pannonia, and Noricum, and then spread into what are presently Slavic territories. Alternatively, they could have been brought into central Europe during slave-trading times of the 1400s-1800s. East African lineages could of course have been brought in by the ancient Greeks, the Romans, the Byzantines, the Arabs, and the Ottomans.
As for the Euro-specific L2a1a, which suggests an ancient introgression of African L2 lineages, this is the fifth occurrence that I know of that shows an ancient arrival of sub-Saharan lineages. Another study examined sub-Saharan lineages in Europe, and found four instances of Euro-specific subclades of L1b, again suggesting an ancient introgression of African L1b lineages into Europe. Two were found in Spain; one in Germany; and one in Russia.
1: Mol Biol (Mosk). 2005 Sep-Oct;39(5):806-12.Links
[African DNA lineages in mitochondrial gene pool of Europeans][Article in Russian]
Maliarchuk BA, Czarny J.
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) nucleotide sequences of African origin have been found at low frequency (1%, in average) in different European populations. In the present study, data on mtDNA variability in populations of Eurasia and Africa are analyzed and search of African-specific lineages present in Europeans is conducted. The results of analysis indicate that, despite a high diversity of African mtDNA haplotypes found in Europeans, monophyletic clusters of African mtDNA lineages, arisen in Europe and characterized by long-term diversity, are nearly absent in Europe. Only two respective clusters (belonging to haplogroups L1b and L3b), which evolutionary age does not exceed 6.5 thousands years, were revealed. Comparative analysis of distribution of frequencies of autosomal microsatellite alleles found in Russian individuals, carrying the African-specific mitochondrial haplotypes, in populations of Europe and Africa has indicated that autosomal genotypes of those Russian individuals are characterized by the presence of alleles characteristic mostly for Europeans.
Joined: 30 Mar 2005 {Posts: 1082 } Location: New Jersey
Posted: Wed 14 May 2008 18:20 Post subject:
I obtained the full study of Reconstructing the phylogeny of African mitochondrial DNA lineages in Slavs, the abstract of which was posted above by ArabianKnight. Frank may find it an interesting study, as it discusses prehistoric African migration into Europe, but challenges the study that suggests the L1b1a found in a Russian sample was present in the Franco-Cantabrian refuge area, and adds that its introduction into Europe was probably in the post-Neolithic or later. L2a1a's ancestor, conversely, may have been introduced when the ice melted.
I do, however, believe the authors are wrong in limiting the introgression of later L haplotypes found in Slavs to the slave trade through Iberia, the Arab conquest of Iberia, and African children bought from Ottoman slavers by Russians. There surely were many other ways and times for sub-Saharan haplotypes to enter Europe, such as during the Ancient Greek era; via Roman slaves and soldiers; via Byzantine slaves and soldiers; via Arab conquest and/or raids of much of the Mediterranean (not only Iberia); via African soldiers and slaves employed by Ottomans in Europe; etc.
I obtained the full study of Reconstructing the phylogeny of African mitochondrial DNA lineages in Slavs, the abstract of which was posted above by ArabianKnight. Frank may find it an interesting study, as it discusses prehistoric African migration into Europe, but challenges the study that suggests the L1b1a found in a Russian sample was present in the Franco-Cantabrian refuge area, and adds that its introduction into Europe was probably in the post-Neolithic or later. L2a1a's ancestor, conversely, may have been introduced when the ice melted.
I do, however, believe the authors are wrong in limiting the introgression of later L haplotypes found in Slavs to the slave trade through Iberia, the Arab conquest of Iberia, and African children bought from Ottoman slavers by Russians. There surely were many other ways and times for sub-Saharan haplotypes to enter Europe, such as during the Ancient Greek era; via Roman slaves and soldiers; via Byzantine slaves and soldiers; via Arab conquest and/or raids of much of the Mediterranean (not only Iberia); via African soldiers and slaves employed by Ottomans in Europe; etc.
Thanks its truley intersting. Yes Africans were present in both Ottoman armies as well Arab armies that conquered in Europe. Also the Caucasian populations of the Caucasus did in fact particapate in the enslvament of East Africans. East African women were mostly enslaved by these men. Today their is still a community of Afro-Cricassian decent. Some can via the ancient Greeks.
Ofcourse Slavs mostly have East Asian admixtute, well with the Hungarians who are not of Slavic decent do indeed have prehaps one of the highest levels of East Asian admixture this because the Mygars and most of those who are of Finno-Ugeric decent were originaly of Mongoloid racial cluster and not Caucasoid, as Y-DNA seems to show. The Y-DNA shows that Mongoloid men such as the Penchengs,Avars,Huns, Bulgars, and other often local Caucasoid women.
Yes its also might be possible that the African mtDNA passed from France into the Slavic world. This because France and Portugal do have the highest sub-Saharan admixture in Europe. In Britian most of non-European admixture is mostly from India.
Recent tests indicate that people of Ireland and Scotland are the purest Caucasoids in the world. Well most of Europe especially the East is affected by Mongoloid admixture, well in Southern Europe its affected mainly by Sub-Saharan African, and the Briths are affected by Indian admixture.
Recent tests indicate that people of Ireland and Scotland are the purest Caucasoids in the world.
What kind of tests and how is a pure "caucasoid" defined?
I shall second that. What on earth is a "caucasoid"? The term has historical significance, like "phlogiston." But, again like "phlogiston," it was discredited as meaningless many decades ago and has not been used in scientific literature since. Since we are in a technical and scholarly forum, any proposed definition should conform to paragraph 2 (Define the Question Objectively) in Introduction to Science-As-Process.
Joined: 30 Mar 2005 {Posts: 1082 } Location: New Jersey
Posted: Fri 16 May 2008 19:00 Post subject:
fwsweet wrote:
MisterLawyer wrote:
Quote:
Recent tests indicate that people of Ireland and Scotland are the purest Caucasoids in the world.
What kind of tests and how is a pure "caucasoid" defined?
I shall second that. What on earth is a "caucasoid"? The term has historical significance, like "phlogiston." But, again like "phlogiston," it was discredited as meaningless many decades ago and has not been used in scientific literature since. Since we are in a technical and scholarly forum, any proposed definition should conform to paragraph 2 (Define the Question Objectively) in Introduction to Science-As-Process.
I didn't question it because I assumed ArabianKnight merely was using it as a substitute for "European." Even though "Negroid" is another such term, sometimes it is obvious from context that it is merely being used as a substitute for "sub-Saharan."
Incidentally, I wrote to Boris Malyarchuk, main author of Reconstructing the phylogeny of African mitochondrial DNA lineages in Slavs, and laid out for him the many historical events that probably contributed to sub-Saharan DNA in Europe. He thanked me profusely, admitting that he only researched the historical element cursorily, and admitting that geneticists are sometimes ignorant of history!
I didn't question it because I assumed ArabianKnight merely was using it as a substitute for "European."
That could well be the intent. But in that case, Misterlawyer's question become even more fascinating: What on earth would be meant by, "Recent tests indicate that people of Ireland and Scotland are the purest Europeans in the world"? What kind of test measures "purity"?
I didn't question it because I assumed ArabianKnight merely was using it as a substitute for "European."
That could well be the intent. But in that case, Misterlawyer's question become even more fascinating: What on earth would be meant by, "Recent tests indicate that people of Ireland and Scotland are the purest Europeans in the world"? What kind of test measures "purity"?
I thought the DNA tests gave percentages of admixture, assuming someone who is 100% is pure
I thought the DNA tests gave percentages of admixture, assuming someone who is 100% is pure
No. There are markers found more often in native Europeans than in native subsaharan Africans and vice-versa. Autosomal admixture tests simply measure the ratios of those markers. With one exception, all markers are found at some level everywhere. The only marker that gives near-perfect certainty is the Duffy null (FY*) marker. But even then you cannot judge by just that one marker. If you did, you would conclude that following individual was "pure European" in the sense you mean.
Dr. Rick Kittles
Joined: 30 Mar 2005 {Posts: 1082 } Location: New Jersey
Posted: Fri 16 May 2008 21:18 Post subject:
fwsweet wrote:
William wrote:
I didn't question it because I assumed ArabianKnight merely was using it as a substitute for "European."
That could well be the intent. But in that case, Misterlawyer's question become even more fascinating: What on earth would be meant by, "Recent tests indicate that people of Ireland and Scotland are the purest Europeans in the world"? What kind of test measures "purity"?
Here I believe "purest Europeans" means "Europeans with the least detectable non-European admixture." Since his native tongue does not appear to be English, I am willing to overlook these things, personally. If this is indeed what he means, then I belive his assertion is correct, as I seem to recall (from uniparental and autosomal studies, the latter data given to me by DNAPrint) that Scots and Irish have very little recent non-European admixture. They are of course not completely free of admixture. I do recall one test that included Scots, and L sequences were found at a rate of less than one percent. Another on Irish found Hemoglobin D, originating in India. The English are more admixed, though, having Hemoglobin D, mtDNA L sequences, and sub-Saharan and Asian Y-chromosomes (the last according to that published piece by Sykes). According to Dr. Charlton, the average Englishman/woman typed with 1-2% sub-Saharan admixture, and a bit more Asian admixture (South and/or East). Dr. Charlton is unfortunately no longer with DNAPrint. The last person I was put in contact with there was woefully ignorant of history.
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