The Geographic Origins of Ethnic Groups in the Indian Subcontinent: Exploring Ancient Footprints with Y-DNA Haplogroups
Several studies have evaluated the movements of large populations to the Indian subcontinent; however, the ancient geographic origins of smaller ethnic communities are not clear. Although historians have attempted to identify the origins of some ethnic groups, the evidence is typically anecdotal and...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2018-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Genetics |
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| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fgene.2018.00004/full |
| _version_ | 1811284362560274432 |
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| author | David G. Mahal David G. Mahal Ianis G. Matsoukas |
| author_facet | David G. Mahal David G. Mahal Ianis G. Matsoukas |
| author_sort | David G. Mahal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Several studies have evaluated the movements of large populations to the Indian subcontinent; however, the ancient geographic origins of smaller ethnic communities are not clear. Although historians have attempted to identify the origins of some ethnic groups, the evidence is typically anecdotal and based upon what others have written before. In this study, recent developments in DNA science were assessed to provide a contemporary perspective by analyzing the Y chromosome haplogroups of some key ethnic groups and tracing their ancient geographical origins from genetic markers on the Y-DNA haplogroup tree. A total of 2,504 Y-DNA haplotypes, representing 50 different ethnic groups in the Indian subcontinent, were analyzed. The results identified 14 different haplogroups with 14 geographic origins for these people. Moreover, every ethnic group had representation in more than one haplogroup, indicating multiple geographic origins for these communities. The results also showed that despite their varied languages and cultural differences, most ethnic groups shared some common ancestors because of admixture in the past. These findings provide new insights into the ancient geographic origins of ethnic groups in the Indian subcontinent. With about 2,000 other ethnic groups and tribes in the region, it is expected that more scientific discoveries will follow, providing insights into how, from where, and when the ancestors of these people arrived in the subcontinent to create so many different communities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T02:27:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6ae9eca82e2b488388806304418df49e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-8021 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T02:27:39Z |
| publishDate | 2018-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Genetics |
| spelling | doaj.art-6ae9eca82e2b488388806304418df49e2022-12-22T03:06:43ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Genetics1664-80212018-01-01910.3389/fgene.2018.00004277505The Geographic Origins of Ethnic Groups in the Indian Subcontinent: Exploring Ancient Footprints with Y-DNA HaplogroupsDavid G. Mahal0David G. Mahal1Ianis G. Matsoukas2School of Sport and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bolton, Bolton, United KingdomExtension Division, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United StatesSchool of Sport and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bolton, Bolton, United KingdomSeveral studies have evaluated the movements of large populations to the Indian subcontinent; however, the ancient geographic origins of smaller ethnic communities are not clear. Although historians have attempted to identify the origins of some ethnic groups, the evidence is typically anecdotal and based upon what others have written before. In this study, recent developments in DNA science were assessed to provide a contemporary perspective by analyzing the Y chromosome haplogroups of some key ethnic groups and tracing their ancient geographical origins from genetic markers on the Y-DNA haplogroup tree. A total of 2,504 Y-DNA haplotypes, representing 50 different ethnic groups in the Indian subcontinent, were analyzed. The results identified 14 different haplogroups with 14 geographic origins for these people. Moreover, every ethnic group had representation in more than one haplogroup, indicating multiple geographic origins for these communities. The results also showed that despite their varied languages and cultural differences, most ethnic groups shared some common ancestors because of admixture in the past. These findings provide new insights into the ancient geographic origins of ethnic groups in the Indian subcontinent. With about 2,000 other ethnic groups and tribes in the region, it is expected that more scientific discoveries will follow, providing insights into how, from where, and when the ancestors of these people arrived in the subcontinent to create so many different communities.http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fgene.2018.00004/fullY chromosomeDNAethnic grouphaplogroupIndian subcontinenthuman migration |
| spellingShingle | David G. Mahal David G. Mahal Ianis G. Matsoukas The Geographic Origins of Ethnic Groups in the Indian Subcontinent: Exploring Ancient Footprints with Y-DNA Haplogroups Frontiers in Genetics Y chromosome DNA ethnic group haplogroup Indian subcontinent human migration |
| title | The Geographic Origins of Ethnic Groups in the Indian Subcontinent: Exploring Ancient Footprints with Y-DNA Haplogroups |
| title_full | The Geographic Origins of Ethnic Groups in the Indian Subcontinent: Exploring Ancient Footprints with Y-DNA Haplogroups |
| title_fullStr | The Geographic Origins of Ethnic Groups in the Indian Subcontinent: Exploring Ancient Footprints with Y-DNA Haplogroups |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Geographic Origins of Ethnic Groups in the Indian Subcontinent: Exploring Ancient Footprints with Y-DNA Haplogroups |
| title_short | The Geographic Origins of Ethnic Groups in the Indian Subcontinent: Exploring Ancient Footprints with Y-DNA Haplogroups |
| title_sort | geographic origins of ethnic groups in the indian subcontinent exploring ancient footprints with y dna haplogroups |
| topic | Y chromosome DNA ethnic group haplogroup Indian subcontinent human migration |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fgene.2018.00004/full |
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