Gene study sheds new light on origins of British men
ScienceDaily (Aug. 24, 2011) New genetic evidence reveals that most British men are not descended from immigrant farmers who migrated east 5,000-10,000 years ago — contrary to previous research.
Instead, scientists from the Universities of Oxford and Edinburgh state that most European men can trace their lineage to people — most likely hunter-gatherers — who had settled in Europe long before that time.
The latest study, based on the most common genetic lineage in European males, aims to correct an analysis of genetic data, published last year. It had reported that most British men came from people who migrated west, with the spread of agriculture, from the Near East.
More than 100 million European men have a set of genes called R-M269, including about three-quarters of British men. A key question in understanding the peopling of Europe is when this group spread out across Europe.
Researchers state their work shows that the set of genes chosen to estimate the age of this group of men vary the outcome enormously. They add that the previously reported east-west pattern is not found in their bigger and more comprehensive dataset. This, the Oxford-Edinburgh team says, leaves tiny evidence for a farmer-led dispersal of this major group.
According to Dr Cristian Capelli, the Oxford geneticist who led the research, the study “resets” the debate on the peopling of Europe. He says, “Our works overturns the recent claims of European Y chromosomes being brought into the continent by farmers.”
Co-author, Dr Jim Wilson of the University of Edinburgh’s Centre for Population Health Sciences, adds that the paper shows for the first time that certain properties of the genes studied strongly influence the accuracy of the date estimate.
“Estimating a date at which an ancestral lineage originated is an interesting application of genetics, but unfortunately it is beset with difficulties and it is very difficult to provide good dates. Many people assume that the more genes the more accurate the dates, but this is not the case: some genetic markers are more suited to dating than others.”
The study also reports multiple subgroups of the R-M269 group that are very common in different parts of Europe, consistent with expansion of these different groups in each place.
The study is published on-line in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.
The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by ScienceDaily staff) from materials provided by University of Edinburgh.
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
source : www.sciencedaily.com
Related News:
- New look at prolonged radiation exposure: At low dose-rate, radiation poses tiny risk to DNA, study suggests
- Toronto study links breakfast with school success
- Losing weight when obese can prevent or cure diabetes, whatever the initial BMI, study suggests
- Study links genes to common forms of glaucoma
- For Paul’s Believers, a Study in American Optimism
- Anxiety increases cancer severity in mice, study shows
- Study points to potential treatment for stroke
- Memory loss with aging not necessarily permanent, animal study suggests
- Prolonged fructose intake not linked to rise in blood pressure, study suggests
- Inherited risk factors for childhood leukemia are more common in Hispanic patients, study finds
Details :
Submited at Thursday, August 25th, 2011 at 7:00 am on Health by madison
Comment RSS 2.0 - leave a comment - trackback