The Eurasian Heartland: A continental perspective on Y-chromosome diversity

  1. R. Spencer Wellsa,b,
  2. Nadira Yuldashevaa,c,
  3. Ruslan Ruzibakievc,
  4. Peter A. Underhilld,
  5. Irina Evseevae,
  6. Jason Blue-Smithd,
  7. Li Jinf,
  8. Bing Suf,
  9. Ramasamy Pitchappang,
  10. Sadagopal Shanmugalakshmig,
  11. Karuppiah Balakrishnang,
  12. Mark Readh,
  13. Nathaniel M. Pearsoni,
  14. Tatiana Zerjalj,
  15. Matthew T. Websterk,
  16. Irakli Zholoshvilil,
  17. Elena Jamarjashvilil,
  18. Spartak Gambarovm,
  19. Behrouz Nikbinn,
  20. Ashur Dostievo,
  21. Ogonazar Aknazarovp,
  22. Pierre Zallouaq,
  23. Igor Tsoyr,
  24. Mikhail Kitaevs,
  25. Mirsaid Mirrakhimovs,
  26. Ashir Charievt, and
  27. Walter F. Bodmera,u
  1. aImperial Cancer Research Fund Cancer and Immunogenetics Laboratory and Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Headington OX3 9DS, United Kingdom; cInstitute of Immunology, Academy of Sciences, Tashkent, Uzbekistan; dDepartment of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305; eDepartment of Medical Genetics, Archangelsk State Medical Academy, Archangelsk, Russia; fDepartment of Human Genetics, School of Public Health, University of Texas, Houston, TX 77030; gCentre for Advanced Studies in Functional Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, India; hMark Read Photography, 2 Beatty Road, London N16 8EB, United Kingdom; iDepartment of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637; jDepartment of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 1QU, United Kingdom; kInstitute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington OX3 9DS, United Kingdom; lDepartment of Pediatrics, State Medical Institute, Tbilisi, Georgia; mImmunology Laboratory, Mikaelin Surgical Institute, Yerevan, Armenia; nDepartment of Immunology, University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14496, Iran; oTajik State Medical Institute, Dushanbe, Tajikistan; pPamir Biological Laboratory, Khorog, Tajikistan; qGenetics Research Laboratory, Chronic Care Center, Hazmieh, Lebanon; rInstitute of Nutrition, Almaty, Kazakstan; sInstitute of Cardiology, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan; and tState Medical Institute, Ashgabad, Turkmenistan

  1. Contributed by Walter F. Bodmer

Abstract

The nonrecombining portion of the human Y chromosome has proven to be a valuable tool for the study of population history. The maintenance of extended haplotypes characteristic of particular geographic regions, despite extensive admixture, allows complex demographic events to be deconstructed. In this study we report the frequencies of 23 Y-chromosome biallelic polymorphism haplotypes in 1,935 men from 49 Eurasian populations, with a particular focus on Central Asia. These haplotypes reveal traces of historical migrations, and provide an insight into the earliest patterns of settlement of anatomically modern humans on the Eurasian continent. Central Asia is revealed to be an important reservoir of genetic diversity, and the source of at least three major waves of migration leading into Europe, the Americas, and India. The genetic results are interpreted in the context of Eurasian linguistic patterns.

Footnotes

  • ↵ b To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: rswells{at}well.ox.ac.uk.

  • ↵ u To whom reprint requests should be addressed at: Imperial Cancer Research Fund Cancer and Immunogenetics Laboratory, Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DS, United Kingdom. E-mail: Walter.Bodmer{at}hertford.ox.ac.uk.

  • Abbreviation:
    NRY,
    nonrecombining portion of the Y chromosome
« Previous | Next Article »Table of Contents

This Article

  1. doi: 10.1073/pnas.171305098 PNAS August 28, 2001 vol. 98 no. 18 10244-10249
  1. » Abstract
  2. Figures Only
  3. Full Text
  4. Full Text (PDF)
  5. Supplemental Tables

Readers Also Viewed

Classifications

Link: Advanced Search

This Week's Issue

  1. February 9, 2010, 107 (6)
  1. Current Issue
  1. Alert me to new issues of PNAS

Most