Surnames are analogous to Y-chromosome genes in patrilineal transmission, but they are cultural characters derived from local dialectal words. This peculiar feature allows us to study the geographic distribution of surnames and their linguistic derivation to discover the place of origin and gene history of individuels, and reconstruct recent or ancient male migrations. Surname analysis was applied to a sample of 202 Sardinian males who were also examined for 13 bi-allelic stable markers, the complex 49a,f/Taql system and 3 microsatellites of the Y chromosome. The molecular analysis of the Y chromosomes revealed that similar to other European populations, more than 90% of Sardinians fell into haplogroups E, G, I, J and Rl whose frequencies are today homogeneously distributed between the three historically and culturally distinct geographic areas into which Sardinia can be subdivided. In contraste the geographic distribution in the three areas turned out to be significantly different when Y chromosomes were redistributed according to the ancestral location of surnames. Thus, the northern area was round to barrx?? Jhe highest incidence of haplogr-oup G an4#ie lowestof feplegroup 1, the-, central-eastern area is characterized by the highest incidence of haplogroup I and the lowest of haplogroup Ria. Most of the Sardinian Y chromosomes belonging to haplogroup 1 harbor the "Sardinian" M26 mutation and the compound haplotype 49a,f-Ht 12 / 12£2-10 Kb / YCAII a-21 / YCAIlb- 11, a combination which, outside Sardinia, is only rarely observed in Iberia and Continental Italy. This finding appears to indicate that the mountainous central-eastern area of Sardinia, where the population underwent a long history of isolation since ancient times, can be the ancestral homeland of this specific subset of haplogroup I. Most importantly, our analysis clearly shows how the surname information is a powerful tool in revealing the ancient structure and history of a population.
From surnames to history of Y-chromosomes: the Sardinian population as a paradigm.
Lisa A;Fiorani O;
2002
Abstract
Surnames are analogous to Y-chromosome genes in patrilineal transmission, but they are cultural characters derived from local dialectal words. This peculiar feature allows us to study the geographic distribution of surnames and their linguistic derivation to discover the place of origin and gene history of individuels, and reconstruct recent or ancient male migrations. Surname analysis was applied to a sample of 202 Sardinian males who were also examined for 13 bi-allelic stable markers, the complex 49a,f/Taql system and 3 microsatellites of the Y chromosome. The molecular analysis of the Y chromosomes revealed that similar to other European populations, more than 90% of Sardinians fell into haplogroups E, G, I, J and Rl whose frequencies are today homogeneously distributed between the three historically and culturally distinct geographic areas into which Sardinia can be subdivided. In contraste the geographic distribution in the three areas turned out to be significantly different when Y chromosomes were redistributed according to the ancestral location of surnames. Thus, the northern area was round to barrx?? Jhe highest incidence of haplogr-oup G an4#ie lowestof feplegroup 1, the-, central-eastern area is characterized by the highest incidence of haplogroup I and the lowest of haplogroup Ria. Most of the Sardinian Y chromosomes belonging to haplogroup 1 harbor the "Sardinian" M26 mutation and the compound haplotype 49a,f-Ht 12 / 12£2-10 Kb / YCAII a-21 / YCAIlb- 11, a combination which, outside Sardinia, is only rarely observed in Iberia and Continental Italy. This finding appears to indicate that the mountainous central-eastern area of Sardinia, where the population underwent a long history of isolation since ancient times, can be the ancestral homeland of this specific subset of haplogroup I. Most importantly, our analysis clearly shows how the surname information is a powerful tool in revealing the ancient structure and history of a population.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
