The origin of Eastern European Jews revealed by autosomal, sex chromosomal and mtDNA polymorphisms.

ABSTRACT:

Background

This study aims to establish the likely origin of EEJ (Eastern European Jews) by genetic distance analysis of autosomal markers and haplogroups on the X and Y chromosomes and mtDNA.

Results

According to the autosomal polymorphisms the investigated Jewish populations do not share a common origin, and EEJ are closer to Italians in particular and to Europeans in general than to the other Jewish populations. The similarity of EEJ to Italians and Europeans is also supported by the X chromosomal haplogroups. In contrast according to the Y-chromosomal haplogroups EEJ are closest to the non-Jewish populations of the Eastern Mediterranean. MtDNA shows a mixed pattern, but overall EEJ are more distant from most populations and hold a marginal rather than a central position.

SUBMITTER: Zoossmann-Diskin A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2964539 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature