Mitochondrial DNA HVRI variation in Balearic populations

Picornell A, Gomez-Barbeito L, Tomas C, Castro JA, Ramon MM.

Laboratori de Genetica, Departament de Biologia, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Palma de Mallorca, Spain.

The Balearic archipelago (Majorca, Minorca, and Ibiza islands and the Chuetas, a small and inbred community of descendants of Sephardic Jews) and Valencia were studied by means of the sequencing of a 404-bp segment of hypervariable region I (HVRI) mtDNA in 231 individuals. In total, 127 different haplotypes defined by 92 variable positions were identified. The incidence of unique haplotypes was very low, especially in Ibiza and the Chuetas. A remarkable observation in the Chueta community was the high frequency (23%) of preHV-1, a Middle Eastern lineage that is closely related, though not identical, to many others found at high frequencies in different Jewish populations. The presence of this haplogroup convincingly supported the Jewish origin of the Chueta community. The studied populations showed a reduced African contribution, and no individuals were detected with North African haplogroup U6, indicating a lack of maternal contribution from the Moslem settlement to these populations. Only Ibiza showed a lower diversity, indicating a possible genetic drift effect, also supported by the historical information known about this island. The variability in the sequence of mtDNA hypervariable region I correlated well with the existing information from the populations, with the exception of that of the Y-chromosome, which could indicate a differential contribution of the maternal and paternal lineages to the genetic pool of the Balearic Islands. The phylogenetic trees showed the intermediate position of the Chueta population between the Middle Eastern and Majorcan samples, confirming the Jewish origin of this population and their Spanish admixture. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2005. (c) 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Mitochondrial DNA HVRI variation in Balearic populations

"Whereas Majorca and Minorca were inhabited since 5500 years ago, there is no archaeological evidence for permanent human habitation on Ibiza before the arrival of the Carthaginians in 654 BC"

"During the last seven centuries, the Ibiza population has been reproductively isolated, and has thus recieved little gene flow from outside."

"The presence of haplogroup U1 (2%) can also ** support** the Middle Eastern origin of the Chueta population."

"Ibiza was settled first by the Carthaginians, who had a North African and/or Middle Eastern origin, since Carthage was founded by Phoenicians. Therefore, it may be possible to find remains of a North African and/or Middle Eastern legacy, by means of the comparison of certain haplogroups that are more frequent in these populations than in other groups."

"Only 3 individuals (6%) were L2 in the Ibizan sample. Other North African and Middle Eastern haplotypes **are not present** in the Ibizan."

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Originally posted by Thought2:
Thought Posts:

Mitochondrial DNA HVRI variation in Balearic populations

"The presence of haplogroup U1 (2%) can also ** support** the Middle Eastern origin of the Chueta population."

"**Only** 3 individuals (6%) were L2 in the Ibizan sample."

"The populations showed a **reduced** African contribution, since only 5 individuals exhibited haplogroup L, 3 of whom were from Ibiza..."

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Thought Writes:

Notice the use of terminology. A 2% frequency of U1 "can** support** the Middle Eastern origin of the Chueta population". While a 6% frequency of L2 "showed a **reduced** African contribution to the population in Ibiza."

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Originally posted by Thought2:
Thought Posts:

Mitochondrial DNA HVRI variation in Balearic populations

"During the last seven centuries, the Ibiza population has been reproductively isolated, and has thus recieved little gene flow from outside."

"Ibiza was settled first by the Carthaginians, who had a North African and/or Middle Eastern origin, since Carthage was founded by Phoenicians. Therefore, it may be possible to find remains of a North African and/or Middle Eastern legacy, by means of the comparison of certain haplogroups that are more frequent in these populations than in other groups."

"Only 3 individuals (6%) were L2 in the Ibizan sample. Other North African and Middle Eastern haplotypes **are not present** in the Ibizan."

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Thought Writes:

Translation:

The population from Ibiza was founded by Carthaginians and has remained largely isolated for 700 years. One should be able to trace the genetic legacy of the Carthaginians through dna analysis. While **NO** North African or Middle Eastern specific genes showed up in the Ibiza population, they do carry 'Sub-Saharan' dna at a frequency of 6%. Using their logica what can we deduce from this study about the Carthaginians?

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Thought Writes:

Notice the use of terminology. A 2% frequency of U1 "can** support** the Middle Eastern origin of the Chueta population". While a 6% frequency of L2 "showed a **reduced** African contribution to the population in Ibiza."

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Yeap; the familiar tactic of deflating the impact of an African contribution, while inflating that of a non-African source.

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Thought Writes:

Translation:

The population from Ibiza was founded by Carthaginians and has remained largely isolated for 700 years. One should be able to trace the genetic legacy of the Carthaginians through dna analysis. While **NO** North African or Middle Eastern specific genes showed up in the Ibiza population, they do carry 'Sub-Saharan' dna at a frequency of 6%. Using their logica what can we deduce from this study about the Carthaginians?

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Carthaginian men brought a few sub-Sahara African women along with them?

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Originally posted by Super car:

Carthaginian men brought a few sub-Sahara African women along with them?

[This message has been edited by Super car (edited 07 April 2005).]

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Thought Writes:

Actually I don't think it means anything outside of the fact that southern Europe is adjacent to Africa and gene flow between the two regions is to be expected. However, I found a certain degree of humor in how they twisted and turned to find a desired outcome within this study. The Carthaginians were complex and heterogenous. Probably more African in North Africa and more European in Iberia and Malta. Gene flow and continuity in both regions during this timeframe.

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Thought Writes:

Actually I don't think it means anything outside of the fact that southern Europe is adjacent to Africa and gene flow between the two regions is to be expected. However, I found a certain degree of humor in how they twisted and turned to find a desired outcome within this study. The Carthaginians were complex and heterogenous. Probably more African in North Africa and more European in Iberia and Malta. Gene flow and continuity in both regions during this timeframe.

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Originally posted by Super car:
Interesting how they intend to square that notion with the "no" North African contribution.

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Thought Writes:

In spain we are very proud of most of our north african origins, as well as our other origings and the legacy all of them left. But this study reflects that in this case they are not as wide as it was thought. No conspiration against nort africans here, guys;-)

Scientific level in spain is quite high and we are really serious and strict about what it is found.

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Originally posted by Sofia25:
Hi
I am Majorcan and I really don't think they tried to square nothing at all but exposing a fact.

In spain we are very proud of most of our north african origins, as well as our other origings and the legacy all of them left. But this study reflects that in this case they are not as wide as it was thought. No conspiration against nort africans here, guys;-)

Scientific level in spain is quite high and we are really serious and strict about what it is found.

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Sofia, the question was on the Ibiza group. The samples showed 6% L2 sub-Saharan lineages, but no specific North African lineages. How do you suppose no specific North African lineage showed up in the sample?

I don't know if it is mentioned elsewhere, the specifics on the break down of the numbers sampled from each group, out of the 231 individuals from the Islands.