•  
  •  

Home > WSU Press > HUMBIOL > Vol. 83 (2011) > Iss. 4

 

Abstract

This study examines the genetic variation in Basque Y chromosome lineages using data on 12 Y-STR loci in a sample of 158 males from four Basque provinces of Spain (Alava, Vizcaya, Guipuzcoa and Navarre). As reported in previous studies, the Basques are characterized by high frequencies of haplogroup R1b (83%). AMOVA analysis demonstrates genetic homogeneity, with a small but significant amount of genetic structure between provinces (Y-STRs: 1.71%, p = 0.0369). Gene and haplotype diversity levels in the Basque population are on the low end of the European distribution (gene diversity: 0.4268; haplotype diversity: 0.9421). Post-Neolithic contribution to the paternal Basque gene pool was estimated by measuring the proportion of those haplogroups with a TMRCA previously dated either prior (R1b, I2a2) or subsequent to (E1b1b, G2a, J2a) the Neolithic. Based on these estimates, the Basque provinces show varying degrees of post-Neolithic contribution in the paternal lineages (10.9% in the combined sample).