Whole Y-chromosome sequences reveal an extremely recent origin of the most common North African paternal lineage E-M183 (M81)

Solé Morata, Neus, 1988-; García-Fernández, Carla; Urasin, Vadim; Bekada, Asmahan; Fadhlaoui-Zid, Karima; Zalloua, Pierre A.; Comas, David, 1969-; Calafell i Majó, Francesc

doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-16271-y

Whole Y-chromosome sequences reveal an extremely recent origin of the most common North African paternal lineage E-M183 (M81)

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Solé-Morata N, García-Fernández C, Urasin V, Bekada A, Fadhlaoui-Zid K, Zalloua P et al. Whole Y-chromosome sequences reveal an extremely recent origin of the most common North African paternal lineage E-M183 (M81). Sci Rep. 2017 Nov 21;7(1):15941. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-16271-y

Abstract

E-M183 (E-M81) is the most frequent paternal lineage in North Africa and thus it must be considered to explore past historical and demographical processes. Here, by using whole Y chromosome sequences from 32 North African individuals, we have identified five new branches within E-M183. The validation of these variants in more than 200 North African samples, from which we also have information of 13 Y-STRs, has revealed a strong resemblance among E-M183 Y-STR haplotypes that pointed to a rapid expansion of this haplogroup. Moreover, for the first time, by using both SNP and STR data, we have provided updated estimates of the times-to-the-most-recent-common-ancestor (TMRCA) for E-M183, which evidenced an extremely recent origin of this haplogroup (2,000-3,000 ya). Our results also showed a lack of population structure within the E-M183 branch, which could be explained by the recent and rapid expansion of this haplogroup. In spite of a reduction in STR heterozygosity towards the West, which would point to an origin in the Near East, ancient DNA evidence together with our TMRCA estimates point to a local origin of E-M183 in NW Africa.