1
|
Agdzhoyan A, Iskandarov N, Ponomarev G, Pylev V, Koshel S, Salaev V, Pocheshkhova E, Kagazezheva Z, Balanovska E. Origins of East Caucasus Gene Pool: Contributions of Autochthonous Bronze Age Populations and Migrations from West Asia Estimated from Y-Chromosome Data. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:1780. [PMID: 37761920 PMCID: PMC10530682 DOI: 10.3390/genes14091780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The gene pool of the East Caucasus, encompassing modern-day Azerbaijan and Dagestan populations, was studied alongside adjacent populations using 83 Y-chromosome SNP markers. The analysis of genetic distances among 18 populations (N = 2216) representing Nakh-Dagestani, Altaic, and Indo-European language families revealed the presence of three components (Steppe, Iranian, and Dagestani) that emerged in different historical periods. The Steppe component occurs only in Karanogais, indicating a recent medieval migration of Turkic-speaking nomads from the Eurasian steppe. The Iranian component is observed in Azerbaijanis, Dagestani Tabasarans, and all Iranian-speaking peoples of the Caucasus. The Dagestani component predominates in Dagestani-speaking populations, except for Tabasarans, and in Turkic-speaking Kumyks. Each component is associated with distinct Y-chromosome haplogroup complexes: the Steppe includes C-M217, N-LLY22g, R1b-M73, and R1a-M198; the Iranian includes J2-M172(×M67, M12) and R1b-M269; the Dagestani includes J1-Y3495 lineages. We propose J1-Y3495 haplogroup's most common lineage originated in an autochthonous ancestral population in central Dagestan and splits up ~6 kya into J1-ZS3114 (Dargins, Laks, Lezgi-speaking populations) and J1-CTS1460 (Avar-Andi-Tsez linguistic group). Based on the archeological finds and DNA data, the analysis of J1-Y3495 phylogeography suggests the growth of the population in the territory of modern-day Dagestan that started in the Bronze Age, its further dispersal, and the microevolution of the diverged population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Nasib Iskandarov
- Research Centre for Medical Genetics, 115522 Moscow, Russia (V.P.); (E.P.)
| | - Georgy Ponomarev
- Research Centre for Medical Genetics, 115522 Moscow, Russia (V.P.); (E.P.)
| | - Vladimir Pylev
- Research Centre for Medical Genetics, 115522 Moscow, Russia (V.P.); (E.P.)
- Biobank of Northern Eurasia, 115201 Moscow, Russia
| | - Sergey Koshel
- Research Centre for Medical Genetics, 115522 Moscow, Russia (V.P.); (E.P.)
- Department of Cartography and Geoinformatics, Faculty of Geography, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Vugar Salaev
- Research Centre for Medical Genetics, 115522 Moscow, Russia (V.P.); (E.P.)
| | - Elvira Pocheshkhova
- Research Centre for Medical Genetics, 115522 Moscow, Russia (V.P.); (E.P.)
- Department of Biology with Course in Medical Genetics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kuban State Medical University, 350063 Krasnodar, Russia
| | - Zhaneta Kagazezheva
- Department of Biology with Course in Medical Genetics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kuban State Medical University, 350063 Krasnodar, Russia
| | - Elena Balanovska
- Research Centre for Medical Genetics, 115522 Moscow, Russia (V.P.); (E.P.)
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Abdullaev SP, Denisenko NP, Mirzaev KB, Shuev GN, Sozaeva ZA, Kachanova AA, Mammaev SN, Kasaeva EA, Gafurov DM, Grishina EA, Sychev DA. CYP2C8, PTGS-1, 2 gene polymorphisms prevalence associated with sensitivity to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs among North Caucasus ethnic groups. TERAPEVT ARKH 2021; 93:1334-1339. [DOI: 10.26442/00403660.2021.11.201220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Aim. Find the prevalence of CYP2C8*3 (rs10509681; rs11572080), PTGS-1 (rs10306135; rs12353214) and PTGS-2 (rs20417) alleles and genotypes in four ethnic groups among Laks, Avars, Dargins and Kumyks.
Materials and methods. The study involved 400 volunteers from four ethnic groups living in Republic of Dagestan: 100 participants from each group. Carriage of polymorphic markers was determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.
Results. Minor allele frequency of the CYP2C8 (rs10509681) was 5.5% in Avars, 10% in Dargins, Laks and Kumyks 6.5% both; CYP2C8 (rs11572080) was 5.5% in Avars, 9.5% in Dargins, 6.5% in Laks, 8.5% in Kumyks; PTGS-1 (rs10306135) in Avars 10.5%, in Dargins 13.0%, in Laks 9.5% and Kumyks 7.5%; PTGS-1 (rs12353214) in Avars 9.0%, in Dargins 4.5%, in Laks 7.5%, in Kumyks 8.0%; PTGS-2 (rs20417) in Avars 1.0%, in Dargins 2.5%, in Laks 3.5%, in Kumyks 5.0%. There were no significant differences between groups.
Conclusion. The study of CYP2C8 and PTGS-1 and 2 gene polymorphisms is promising for predicting the effectiveness and safety of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug therapy, due to the high prevalence of these polymorphisms in ethnic groups in the North Caucasus.
Collapse
|
3
|
Sychev DA, Abdullaev SP, Mirzaev KB, Ryzhikova KA, Shuyev GN, Sozaeva ZA, Grishina EA, Mammaev SN, Gafurov DM, Kitaeva EY, Shprakh VV, Suleymanov SS, Bolieva LZ, Sozaeva MSH, Zhuchkova SM, Gimaldinova NE, Sidukova EE, Asoskova AV, Mumladze RB. Genetic determinants of dabigatran safety (CES1 gene rs2244613 polymorphism) in the Russian population: multi-ethnic analysis. Mol Biol Rep 2019; 46:2761-2769. [PMID: 30850966 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-019-04722-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 02/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
This study was aimed to investigate the prevalence of the CES1 gene (c.1168-33A > C, rs2244613) polymorphism among 12 different ethnic groups living in Russia to provide a basis for future clinical studies concerning genetic determinants of dabigatran safety. The study involved 1630 apparently healthy, unrelated, and chronic medication-free volunteers of both genders from 12 different ethnic groups in Russia: 136 Russians, 90 Avars, 50 Dargins, 46 Laks, 120 Kabardians, 112 Balkars, 244 Ossetians, 206 Mari, 204 Mordvinians, 238 Chuvashes, 114 Buryats and 70 Nanays. Genotyping was performed by using real-time polymerase chain reaction-based methods. The allelic prevalence of the ethnic groups was compared with Caucasus population participating in the RE-LY study. Statistically significant differences for the following gene polymorphism were found between all ethnic groups and RE-LY participants. Based on obtained results, it can be assumed that patients of all ethnic groups living in Russia taking dabigatran have a lower risk of bleeding.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dmitry Alekseevich Sychev
- Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Further Professional Education "Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education" of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, Barrikadnaya St., 2/1, Build. 1, Moscow, 125993, Russian Federation
| | - Sherzod Pardaboevich Abdullaev
- Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Further Professional Education "Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education" of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, Barrikadnaya St., 2/1, Build. 1, Moscow, 125993, Russian Federation.
| | - Karin Badavievich Mirzaev
- Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Further Professional Education "Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education" of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, Barrikadnaya St., 2/1, Build. 1, Moscow, 125993, Russian Federation
| | - Kristina Anatolevna Ryzhikova
- Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Further Professional Education "Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education" of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, Barrikadnaya St., 2/1, Build. 1, Moscow, 125993, Russian Federation
| | - Grigoriy Nikolaevich Shuyev
- Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Further Professional Education "Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education" of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, Barrikadnaya St., 2/1, Build. 1, Moscow, 125993, Russian Federation
| | - Zhannet Alimovna Sozaeva
- Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Further Professional Education "Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education" of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, Barrikadnaya St., 2/1, Build. 1, Moscow, 125993, Russian Federation
| | - Elena Anatolevna Grishina
- Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Further Professional Education "Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education" of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, Barrikadnaya St., 2/1, Build. 1, Moscow, 125993, Russian Federation
| | - Suleiman Nurattinovich Mammaev
- Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education "Dagestan State Medical University" of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, Lenin Square, 1, Makhachkala, Republic Of Dagestan, 367000, Russian Federation
| | - Daniyal Musaevich Gafurov
- State Budgetary Institution of the Republic of Dagestan "Laksky Central District Hospital", Kumuh Village, Makhachkala, Republic of Dagestan, 368360, Russian Federation
| | - Elena Yurievna Kitaeva
- Irkutsk State Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education - Branch Campus of the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Further Professional Education "Russian Medical Academy of of Continuous Professional Education" of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, Yubileinyi District, 100, Irkutsk, 664049, Russian Federation
| | - Vladimir Viktorovich Shprakh
- Irkutsk State Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education - Branch Campus of the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Further Professional Education "Russian Medical Academy of of Continuous Professional Education" of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, Yubileinyi District, 100, Irkutsk, 664049, Russian Federation
| | | | - Laura Zelimkhanovna Bolieva
- Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education "North Ossetia State Medical Academy" of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, Pushkinskaya St., 40, Vladikavkaz, Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, 362019, Russian Federation
| | - Maryam Sultan-Hamitovna Sozaeva
- State Budgetary Healthcare Institution "Republican Clinical Hospital" of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, Nogmova St., 91, Nalchik, Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, 360003, Russian Federation
| | - Svetlana Mikhailovna Zhuchkova
- Autonomous Institution "Republican Clinical Oncologic Dispensary" of the Ministry of Health of the Chuvash Republic, Gladkov St., 31, Cheboksary, Chuvash Republic, 428020, Russian Federation
| | - Natalia Evgenievna Gimaldinova
- Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education "I. N. Ulianov Chuvash State University", Moskovskiy pr., 15, Cheboksary, Chuvash Republic, 428015, Russian Federation
| | - Elena Eduardovna Sidukova
- State Budgetary Institution of the Republic of Mari El "Kozmodemyansk Interdistrict Hospital", 3rd Microdistrict, 25, Kozmodemyansk, Republic Of Mari El, 425350, Russian Federation
| | - Anastasiia Valerievna Asoskova
- Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Further Professional Education "Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education" of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, Barrikadnaya St., 2/1, Build. 1, Moscow, 125993, Russian Federation
| | - Robert Borisovich Mumladze
- Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Further Professional Education "Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education" of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, Barrikadnaya St., 2/1, Build. 1, Moscow, 125993, Russian Federation
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Coevolution of genes and languages and high levels of population structure among the highland populations of Daghestan. J Hum Genet 2015; 61:181-91. [PMID: 26607180 DOI: 10.1038/jhg.2015.132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2015] [Revised: 08/11/2015] [Accepted: 10/08/2015] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
As a result of the combination of great linguistic and cultural diversity, the highland populations of Daghestan present an excellent opportunity to test the hypothesis of language-gene coevolution at a fine geographic scale. However, previous genetic studies generally have been restricted to uniparental markers and have not included many of the key populations of the region. To improve our understanding of the genetic structure of Daghestani populations and to investigate possible correlations between genetic and linguistic variation, we analyzed ~550,000 autosomal single nucleotide polymorphisms, phylogenetically informative Y chromosome markers and mtDNA haplotypes in 21 ethnic Daghestani groups. We found high levels of population structure in Daghestan consistent with the hypothesis of long-term isolation among populations of the highland Caucasus. Highland Daghestani populations exhibit extremely high levels of between-population diversity for all genetic systems tested, leading to some of the highest FST values observed for any region of the world. In addition, we find a significant positive correlation between gene and language diversity, suggesting that these two aspects of human diversity have coevolved as a result of historical patterns of social interaction among highland farmers at the community level. Finally, our data are consistent with the hypothesis that most Daghestanian-speaking groups descend from a common ancestral population (~6000-6500 years ago) that spread to the Caucasus by demic diffusion followed by population fragmentation and low levels of gene flow.
Collapse
|
5
|
Karafet TM, Bulayeva KB, Bulayev OA, Gurgenova F, Omarova J, Yepiskoposyan L, Savina OV, Veeramah KR, Hammer MF. Extensive genome-wide autozygosity in the population isolates of Daghestan. Eur J Hum Genet 2015; 23:1405-12. [PMID: 25604856 DOI: 10.1038/ejhg.2014.299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2014] [Revised: 12/09/2014] [Accepted: 12/19/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Isolated populations are valuable resources for mapping disease genes, as inbreeding increases genome-wide homozygosity and enhances the ability to map disease alleles on a genetically uniform background within a relatively homogenous environment. The populations of Daghestan are thought to have resided in the Caucasus Mountains for hundreds of generations and are characterized by a high prevalence of certain complex diseases. To explore the extent to which their unique population history led to increased levels of inbreeding, we genotyped >550 000 autosomal single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in a set of 14 population isolates speaking Nakh-Daghestanian (ND) languages. The ND-speaking populations showed greatly elevated coefficients of inbreeding, very high numbers and long lengths of Runs of Homozygosity, and elevated linkage disequilibrium compared with surrounding groups from the Caucasus, the Near East, Europe, Central and South Asia. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that most ND-speaking groups descend from a common ancestral population that fragmented into a series of genetic isolates in the Daghestanian highlands. They have subsequently maintained a long-term small effective population size as a result of constant inbreeding and very low levels of gene flow. Given these findings, Daghestanian population isolates are likely to be useful for mapping genes associated with complex diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana M Karafet
- ARL Division of Biotechnology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Kazima B Bulayeva
- Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Oleg A Bulayev
- Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Farida Gurgenova
- Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Jamilia Omarova
- Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Levon Yepiskoposyan
- Institute of Molecular Biology, National Academy of Sciences, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Olga V Savina
- ARL Division of Biotechnology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | | | - Michael F Hammer
- ARL Division of Biotechnology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Tofanelli S, Bertoncini S, Farjadian S, Ghaderi A, Ferri G, Romeo G, Luiselli D. Increased efficiency in geographic ancestry assignment and human identification by combining lineage profiles: The case of the Iranians. Am J Hum Biol 2014; 26:413-6. [PMID: 24470040 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.22511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2013] [Revised: 01/01/2014] [Accepted: 01/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This research is a first empirical attempt to quantify the increase of the among-groups variance and the probative value of a DNA evidence when combining profiles based on markers with uniparental inheritance. METHODS Yfiler and HVS-I panels of loci were analyzed in 130 healthy unrelated males from six Iranian native groups. RESULTS A separate analysis of DNA profiles at the two lineage markers failed to detect a population substructure, whereas maximum levels of genetic diversity (HD = 1) and discrimination capacity (DC = 1) were obtained by combining the two profiles. CONCLUSIONS When combined, the forensic efficiency of routinely used panels of lineage markers can be largely sufficient to resolve cases of geographic ancestry and human identification even in genetically homogeneous populations.
Collapse
|
7
|
Kurbatova OL, Pobedonostseva EY, Gurgenova FR, Bulaeva KB. Variation of the parameters of natural reproduction and Crow’s indices in the ethnic groups of Dagestan. RUSS J GENET+ 2012. [DOI: 10.1134/s1022795412100043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
|
8
|
Bertoncini S, Bulayeva K, Ferri G, Pagani L, Caciagli L, Taglioli L, Semyonov I, Bulayev O, Paoli G, Tofanelli S. The dual origin of Tati-speakers from Dagestan as written in the genealogy of uniparental variants. Am J Hum Biol 2012; 24:391-9. [PMID: 22275152 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.22220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2011] [Revised: 11/23/2011] [Accepted: 12/03/2011] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Tat language is classified in an Iranian subbranch of the Indo-European family. It is spoken in the Caucasus and in the West Caspian region by populations with heterogeneous cultural traditions and religion whose ancestry is unknown. The aim of this study is to get a first insight about the genetic history of this peculiar linguistic group. METHODS We investigated the uniparental gene pools, defined by NRY and mtDNA high-resolution markers, in two Tati-speaking communities from Dagestan: Mountain Jews or Juhur, who speak the Judeo-Tat dialect, and the Tats, who speak the Muslim-Tat dialect. The samples have been collected in monoethnic rural villages and selected on the basis of genealogical relationships. A novel approach aimed at resolving cryptic cases in the recent history of human populations, which combines the properties of uniparental genetic markers with the potential of "forward-in-time" computer simulations, is presented. RESULTS Judeo-Tats emerged as a group with tight matrilineal genetic legacy who separated early from other Jewish communities. Tats exhibited genetic signals of a much longer in situ evolution, which appear as substantially unlinked with other Indo-Iranian enclaves in the Caucasus. CONCLUSIONS The independent demographic histories of the two samples, with mutually reversed profiles at paternally and maternally transmitted genetic systems, suggest that geographic proximity and linguistic assimilation of Tati-speakers from Dagestan do not reflect a common ancestry.
Collapse
|
9
|
Pagani L, Ayub Q, MacArthur DG, Xue Y, Baillie JK, Chen Y, Kozarewa I, Turner DJ, Tofanelli S, Bulayeva K, Kidd K, Paoli G, Tyler-Smith C. High altitude adaptation in Daghestani populations from the Caucasus. Hum Genet 2011; 131:423-33. [PMID: 21904933 PMCID: PMC3312735 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-011-1084-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2011] [Accepted: 08/19/2011] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
We have surveyed 15 high-altitude adaptation candidate genes for signals of positive selection in North Caucasian highlanders using targeted re-sequencing. A total of 49 unrelated Daghestani from three ethnic groups (Avars, Kubachians, and Laks) living in ancient villages located at around 2,000 m above sea level were chosen as the study population. Caucasian (Adygei living at sea level, N = 20) and CEU (CEPH Utah residents with ancestry from northern and western Europe; N = 20) were used as controls. Candidate genes were compared with 20 putatively neutral control regions resequenced in the same individuals. The regions of interest were amplified by long-PCR, pooled according to individual, indexed by adding an eight-nucleotide tag, and sequenced using the Illumina GAII platform. 1,066 SNPs were called using false discovery and false negative thresholds of ~6%. The neutral regions provided an empirical null distribution to compare with the candidate genes for signals of selection. Two genes stood out. In Laks, a non-synonymous variant within HIF1A already known to be associated with improvement in oxygen metabolism was rediscovered, and in Kubachians a cluster of 13 SNPs located in a conserved intronic region within EGLN1 showing high population differentiation was found. These variants illustrate both the common pathways of adaptation to high altitude in different populations and features specific to the Daghestani populations, showing how even a mildly hypoxic environment can lead to genetic adaptation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luca Pagani
- The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Balanovsky O, Dibirova K, Dybo A, Mudrak O, Frolova S, Pocheshkhova E, Haber M, Platt D, Schurr T, Haak W, Kuznetsova M, Radzhabov M, Balaganskaya O, Romanov A, Zakharova T, Soria Hernanz DF, Zalloua P, Koshel S, Ruhlen M, Renfrew C, Wells RS, Tyler-Smith C, Balanovska E. Parallel evolution of genes and languages in the Caucasus region. Mol Biol Evol 2011; 28:2905-20. [PMID: 21571925 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msr126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
We analyzed 40 single nucleotide polymorphism and 19 short tandem repeat Y-chromosomal markers in a large sample of 1,525 indigenous individuals from 14 populations in the Caucasus and 254 additional individuals representing potential source populations. We also employed a lexicostatistical approach to reconstruct the history of the languages of the North Caucasian family spoken by the Caucasus populations. We found a different major haplogroup to be prevalent in each of four sets of populations that occupy distinct geographic regions and belong to different linguistic branches. The haplogroup frequencies correlated with geography and, even more strongly, with language. Within haplogroups, a number of haplotype clusters were shown to be specific to individual populations and languages. The data suggested a direct origin of Caucasus male lineages from the Near East, followed by high levels of isolation, differentiation, and genetic drift in situ. Comparison of genetic and linguistic reconstructions covering the last few millennia showed striking correspondences between the topology and dates of the respective gene and language trees and with documented historical events. Overall, in the Caucasus region, unmatched levels of gene-language coevolution occurred within geographically isolated populations, probably due to its mountainous terrain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Oleg Balanovsky
- Research Centre for Medical Genetics, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|