Uralic genes in Europe

Abstract

We have analysed data of three European populations speaking non-Indoeuropean languages: Hungarians, Lapps, and Finns. Principal coordinate analysis shows that Lapps are almost exactly intermediate between people located geographically near the Ural mountains and speaking Uralic languages, and central and northern Europeans. Hungarians and Finns are definitely closer to Europeans. An analysis of genetic admixture between Uralic and European ancestors shows that Lapps are slightly more than 50% European, Hungarians are 87% European, and Finns are 90% European. There is basic agreement between these conclusions and historical data on Hungary. Less is known about Finns and very little about Lapps.

MtDNA and Y chromosome polymorphisms in Hungary: inferences from the palaeolithic, neolithic and Uralic influences on the modern Hungarian gene pool

“…3 This second hypothesis would be consistent with the historical view that the number of newcomers (whatever it was) was not very different from the number of previous inhabitants of Hungary. 4 Nevertheless, it cannot be excluded that, at variance with the Fenno speakers who migrated toward northern Europe, Magyars did not harbour the 50f2/C deletion right from their origins. Were this the case, the 50f2/C deletion would not be the appropriate marker to investigate the Asian Uralic male contribution to the Hungarian gene pool.…”

“…This is due to the Magyar invasion, which at the end of the 9th century AD brought to the present Hungarian territory thousands of people (estimates vary from 50 000 to 500 000) 4 who spoke a Uralic language (the Magyar). The extent of genetic influence of the invaders on the Hungarian gene pool, which is still a puzzling problem, has been addressed by studying some mtDNA and Y chromosome polymorphisms.…”

“…4 Subsequently, mtDNA and Y chromosome markers, which make it possible to identify separately male and female components in the genetic structure of a population, have been very helpful in revealing that the Uralic speakers, Finns and Saami, show almost exclusively mtDNA lineages of European ancestry [5][6][7][8] but a considerable Y-specific lineage which can be traced back to Siberian and Central Asian peoples. [9][10][11] An important Uralic male component has also been identified in Estonians.…”

Spatial and temporal differentiation in colonizing populations of Ceratitis capitata

“…Two ordination approaches have been used for electrophoretic data: principal component analysis and a tree representation. The rationale for applying principal component analysis to allele frequencies is given in Cavalli Sforza & Bodmer (1971), and in Guglielmino et a!., (1990). Principal component analysis (Sneath & Sokal, 1973) is used to examine spatial patterns of association of populations.…”

Probable ancestors of Hungarian ethnic groups: an admixture analysis

“…In spite of their non-Indoeuropean language, the Hungarian genetic pool has acquired a major European contribution, the Uralic admixture rate being around 13 % (Guglielmino et al 1990). Nevertheless, several Hungarian ethnic groups, whose peculiar culture has been preserved for centuries, claim to be descendants of ancient colonizers.…”