Distribution of Y chromosome lineages in Jerba island population

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Abstract

We have analysed Y chromosome polymorphism on six STR markers (DYS19, DYS389I, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, and DYS393) and eight classical UEP markers (SRY10831a, YAP, SRY4064, M2, 92R7, M9, SRY2627 and 12f2) in three distinct ethnical, linguistic and cultural groups of Jerba island (Berbers, Arabs and a Jerban group of Sub-Saharan origin). Fst genetic distance and principal co-ordinate analysis based on STR haplotype frequencies, showed a genetic differentiation between the three Jerban groups and a genetic relationship between Jerban Berbers and Mozabites (a well defined Berber group in Algeria). Compound use of UEP and STR markers have increased discriminatory capacity. The detection of the most common haplotype (H9) in both Berbers and Mozabites may be useful in forensic special cases.

Introduction

The non-recombining region of human Y chromosome (NRY) is strictly paternally transmitted unchanged from father to son except by the accumulation of mutations. Markers on this region will be therefore inherited within a haploid state which makes them powerful tools to trace easily paternal lineages. This, makes Y chromosome, a very important system to use in human population evolutionary studies [1].

Furthermore, Y chromosome exhibits two kind of polymorphism markers: (a) biallelic markers with a low mutation rate representing a near unique mutation events (UMEs) in human evolution such as single base-pair substitutions [2], [3] and insertion/deletions [4], [5]; (b) mutiallelic markers with high mutation rate of 6–11% per generation for the minisatellite locus MSY1 [6] and of ∼0.2% per generation for microsatellites [7], [8].

Currently one of the most important goal of both forensic and anthropological geneticists is the development of population databases which is crucial to establish an ethnical and geographical stratification of Y chromosome haplotype frequencies, to trace different population moving and to evaluate geographical, cultural and linguistic effects on human evolution.

In the present study, we typed DNA from 135 Jerban males belonging to three ethnic groups of Jerba island: Berbers, Arabs and Jerbans with Sub-Saharan origin for six microsatellite and eight biallelic Y chromosome markers and we compared them to North African, African and Euro-Mediterranean populations data available from the literature.

According to the population history of Jerba island, situated in the South-East of Tunisia, Berbers belong to the most ancient group which seems to have Capsians as local ancestors (7000–5000 b.c.) [9].

Anthropological and linguistic studies on Jerban Berbers reported that this group belongs to the Ibadhite religious community and has its distinct Berber language [10]. Arab reached the island with the Muslim invasions to North Africa in the 7th century. No demographic information about their number at this period are available, but this group has certainly imposed its language and religion on Berbers. Jerban group of Sub-Saharan origin seems to be descendent of Sudanese or Nigerian slaves who came in the 18th century [10].The goal of this study is to define a Y chromosome lineage database in Jerba island groups, and to compare them to some North African and European populations in order to better appreciate their haplotype distribution and genetic relationship which are very important for forensic applications.

Section snippets

Population samples

Jerban samples analysed in the present study, include 47 Berbers, 46 Arabs and 42 Jerbans of Sub-Saharan origin. They were collected from different locations of the island. Information about geographic origin and native language of their four grandparents was obtained. DNA was extracted from fresh blood using standard phenol–chloroform methods from all the 135 unrelated donors.

STR typing

Six Y linked STR loci were amplified from genomic DNA (DYS19, DYS389I, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392 and DYS393). Polymerase

Results and discussion

One hundred and thirty five Jerban males were analysed for six Y STR loci. Sixty-seven distinct haplotypes were observed (Table 1) and distributed as following: 18 haplotypes among 47 Berbers, 27 haplotypes among 46 Arabs and 33 haplotypes among 42 Jerban of Sub-Saharan (Table 2).

Haplotype diversity values range from 0.987 to 0.827 (Table 2). Berbers show the lowest value, whereas, Jerban of Sub-Saharan origin show the highest one. These informations are totally in agreement with a previous

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank all the DNA donors who made this study possible. We are grateful to Dr. Reiner Veitia for technical help and advice concerning microsatellite typing. This work was supported by the Tunisian Ministry of Higher Education and a French–Tunisian cooperation.

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    Present address: Pavillon Baudelocque, Inserm U361, Hôpital Cochin, 123, Boulevard de Port-Royal 75014, Paris, France.

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