November 25, 2014

E-M81 in Morocco

Hum Biol. 2014 May;86(2):105-12.

Phylogeography of e1b1b1b-m81 haplogroup and analysis of its subclades in morocco.

Reguig A, Harich N, Barakat A, Rouba H.

Abstract

In this study we analyzed 295 unrelated Berber-speaking men from northern, central, and southern Morocco to characterize frequency of the E1b1b1b-M81 haplogroup and to refine the phylogeny of its subclades: E1b1b1b1-M107, E1b1b1b2-M183, and E1b1b1b2a-M165. For this purpose, we typed four biallelic polymorphisms: M81, M107, M183, and M165. A large majority of the Berber-speaking male lineages belonged to the Y-chromosomal E1b1b1b-M81 haplogroup. The frequency ranged from 79.1% to 98.5% in all localities sampled. E1b1b1b2-M183 was the most dominant subclade in our samples, ranging from 65.1% to 83.1%. In contrast, the E1b1b1b1-M107 and E1b1b1b2a-M165 subclades were not found in our samples. Our results suggest a predominance of the E1b1b1b-M81 haplogroup among Moroccan Berber-speaking males with a decreasing gradient from south to north. The most prevalent subclade in this haplogroup was E1b1b1b2-M183, for which diffferences among these three groups were statistically significant between central and southern groups.

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2 comments:

andrew said...

"The frequency ranged from 79.1% to 98.5% in all localities sampled."

This is the already well known big picture story. Berber's are quite homogeneous in Y-DNA up to a quite fine level of detail, have only three minor internal splits of its own that aren't terribly geographically distinct, and are distinct from other Afro-Asiatic populations in Y-DNA. This suggests a distinct origin for them in a single founding event.

Does the paper date the splits (and thus suggest the date of the Berber ethnic population)?

bellbeakerblogger said...

Further evidence the Proto-Afro-Asiatic urheimat is to be found in the highlands of Northeast Africa.

The interesting question is the large disparity of maternal lineages among Oasis Berbers and Moroccans in general.

Either Northwest Africa was invaded by warrior women from the Near East or some male lineages of Northwest Africa are severely diminished.