High-resolution Y chromosome haplotypes of Israeli and Palestinian Arabs reveal geographic substructure and substantial overlap with haplotypes of Jews

• Published in: Human genetics Vol. 107; no. 6; pp. 630 - 641
• Main Authors: NEBEL, Almut, FILON, Dvora, WEISS, Deborah A, WEALE, Michael, FAERMAN, Marina, OPPENHEIM, Ariella, THOMAS, Mark G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer 01-12-2000; Berlin Springer Nature B.V; New York, NY
• Subjects: Arab people; Arabs - genetics; Biological and medical sciences; Blood diseases; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Frequency; Genetic markers; Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution; Haplotypes; Human; Humans; Islamization; Israel; Jewish people; Jews - genetics; Male; Microsatellites; Mitochondrial DNA; Mutation; Population; Population genetics, reproduction patterns; Y Chromosome; Y chromosomes; Asia; Israel; Jerusalem Israel; Human; Arabic; Genetic marker; Geographic distribution; Microsatellite DNA; DNA; Y-Chromosome; Population genetics; Haplotype; Jew; Polymorphism
• ISSN: 0340-6717; 1432-1203
• DOI: 10.1007/s004390000426

High-resolution Y chromosome haplotype analysis was performed in 143 paternally unrelated Israeli and Palestinian Moslem Arabs (I&P Arabs) by screening for 11 binary polymorphisms and six microsatellite loci. Two frequent haplotypes were found among the 83 detected: the modal haplotype of the I&P Arabs (approximately 14%) was spread throughout the region, while its one-step microsatellite neighbor, the modal haplotype of the Galilee sample (approximately 8%), was mainly restricted to the north. Geographic substructuring within the Arabs was observed in the highlands of Samaria and Judea. Y chromosome variation in the I&P Arabs was compared to that of Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jews, and to that of North Welsh individuals. At the haplogroup level, defined by the binary polymorphisms only, the Y chromosome distribution in Arabs and Jews was similar but not identical. At the haplotype level, determined by both binary and microsatellite markers, a more detailed pattern was observed. Single-step microsatellite networks of Arab and Jewish haplotypes revealed a common pool for a large portion of Y chromosomes, suggesting a relatively recent common ancestry. The two modal haplotypes in the I&P Arabs were closely related to the most frequent haplotype of Jews (the Cohen modal haplotype). However, the I&P Arab clade that includes the two Arab modal haplotypes (and makes up 32% of Arab chromosomes) is found at only very low frequency among Jews, reflecting divergence and/or admixture from other populations.