Origins and Divergence of the Roma (Gypsies)

Abstract

The identification of a growing number of novel Mendelian disorders and private mutations in the Roma (Gypsies) points to their unique genetic heritage. Linguistic evidence suggests that they are of diverse Indian origins. Their social structure within Europe resembles that of the jatis of India, where the endogamous group, often defined by profession, is the primary unit. Genetic studies have reported dramatic differences in the frequencies of mutations and neutral polymorphisms in different Romani populations. However, these studies have not resolved ambiguities regarding the origins and relatedness of Romani populations. In this study, we examine the genetic structure of 14 well-defined Romani populations. Y-chromosome and mtDNA markers of different mutability were analyzed in a total of 275 individuals. Asian Y-chromosome haplogroup VI-68, defined by a mutation at the M82 locus, was present in all 14 populations and accounted for 44.8% of Romani Y chromosomes. Asian mtDNA-haplogroup M was also identified in all Romani populations and accounted for 26.5% of female lineages in the sample. Limited diversity within these two haplogroups, measured by the variation at eight short-tandem-repeat loci for the Y chromosome, and sequencing of the HVS1 for the mtDNA are consistent with a small group of founders splitting from a single ethnic population in the Indian subcontinent. Principal-components analysis and analysis of molecular variance indicate that genetic structure in extant endogamous Romani populations has been shaped by genetic drift and differential admixture and correlates with the migrational history of the Roma in Europe. By contrast, social organization and professional group divisions appear to be the product of a more recent restitution of the caste system of India.

Origins, admixture and founder lineages in European Roma

“…16 The east-to-west genetic gradient observed in Roma populations is compatible with the postulated waves of migration within Europe. 4,7,17,18 All European Roma appear to descend from a low number of founders, and to have diverged into socially distinct endogamous groups after their arrival in Europe. 14,17,18 The Indian component of the proto-Roma ancestry was supported by the identification of disease-causing mutations described in affected subjects in India and Pakistan.…”

“…4,7,17,18 All European Roma appear to descend from a low number of founders, and to have diverged into socially distinct endogamous groups after their arrival in Europe. 14,17,18 The Indian component of the proto-Roma ancestry was supported by the identification of disease-causing mutations described in affected subjects in India and Pakistan. 9,15,19,20 Furthermore, the Roma show high frequencies of the H-M69 Y-chromosome 4,17,21,22 and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) M5, M18, M25, and M35 haplogroups 4,7,17,[23][24][25] reported to have an Indian origin.…”

Genetic and biochemical study of dual hereditary jaundice: Dubin–Johnson and Gilbert’s syndromes. Haplotyping and founder effect of deletion in ABCC2

“…15 Our study describes the coincidental defects in two genes Reference ranges: total porphyrins o300 nmol/l; uroporphyrin o40 nmol/l; coproporphyrin o150 nmol/l; Conjugated bilirubin o7 μmol/l, total bilirubin o20 μmol/l. Figure 2 The span of a common haplotype in families with DJS encompassing c.1013_1014delTG in ABCC2 gene with indication of linkage disequilibrium (r 2 ).…”

“…A great majority of European Roma shares the same haplotypes -haplogroup H-M82 of chromosome Y and mitochondrial haplogroup M. Their common ancestors originate 1500 years ago from Northern India. [15][16][17] In this work, we investigated the prevalence of dual hereditary jaundice among 56 members from seven seemingly unrelated Roma families. Here we report the identification of a novel variant in ABCC2 gene together with a compound defect in ABCC2 and UGT1A1 genes and a shared haplotype among all seven families.…”

Founder effect and estimation of the age of the French Gypsy mutation associated with Glanzmann thrombasthenia in Manouche families

“…Records on linguistics, cultural anthropology and demography Dating French Gypsy mutation in thrombasthenia M Fiore et al describe the Gypsies as a population with Indian origins, with an initial exodus into Byzantium Empire dated approximately to the eleventh century, and a subsequent dispersal throughout Europe by the fifteenth century (Figure 3). [25][26][27][28][29] The migration of Gypsies in France took two routes: the first, through the North of Europe, and the second from Persia through North-Africa. Gypsies recognize 10,11,15 On the basis of our results, it is possible to infer the migration history of these Manouche families in France (Figure 3).…”