BAMAD-133

Brit-Am Anthropology and DNA Update (7 May, 2015, 18 Iyar, 5775)

Contents:
1. Haplogroup R (Y-DNA)
2. Y-DNA haplogroups of ancient civilizations: Assyrians Like West Europeans?
3. Question Concerning DNA and Environment
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1. Haplogroup R (Y-DNA)
http://www.realhistoryww.com/world_history/ancient/White_people.htm

In human genetics, Haplogroup R is a Y-chromosome DNA haplogroup, a subgroup of haplogroup P, defined by the M207 mutation.

This haplogroup is believed to have arisen around 26,800 years ago, somewhere in Central Asia or South Asia, where its ancestor Haplogroup P is most often found at polymorphic frequencies. Cambridge University geneticist Kivisild et al. (2003) suggests that southern and western Asia might be the source of this haplogroup:

Given the geographic spread and STR diversities of sister clades R1 and R2, the latter of which is restricted to India, Pakistan, Iran, and southern central Asia, it is possible that southern and western Asia were the source for R1 and R1a differentiation.

The R haplogroup is common throughout Europe and western Asia and the Indian sub-continent, and in those whose ancestry is from within these regions. It also occurs in North and Sub-Saharan Africa. The distribution is markedly different for the two major subclades R1a and R1b.

Haplogroup R1a is typical in populations of Eastern Europe, Indian Subcontinent and parts of Central Asia. R1a has a significant presence in Northern Europe, Central Europe, Altaians and Iran as well as in Siberia. R1a can be found in low frequencies in the Middle East, mostly in Indo-European speakers or their descendants.

Haplogroup R1b predominates in Western Europe. R1b can be found at high frequency in Bashkortostan (Russia). R1b can be found at low frequency in Central Asia, Middle East, South Asia as well as North Africa. There is also R1b in Sub Saharan Africa. In Europe, R1b coincides with areas of Celtic influence.
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2. Y-DNA haplogroups of ancient civilizations: Assyrians Like West Europeans?

http://www.eupedia.com/forum/threads/25163-Y-DNA-haplogroups-of-ancient-civilizations

Extracts:
The Assyrians would have contrasted with their southern Babylonian neighbours by having much more J2 than J1 and a considerable amount of R1b-L23 (20 to 40%). They would also have had minorities of E1b1b, G and T lineages.
Warning: The abnove figures may be based on extrapolaTIONS FROM THE PRESENT-DAY KURDS.]
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3. Question Concerning DNA and Environment

Nehemia Javier
Hello Britam
 
http://hebrewnations.com/articles/race/environment.html
 
I just finished the article above and I find it fascinating how mtDNA and YDNA are likely based on environmental factors rather that common ancestry. Do you think that autosomal DNA is also based on environment? For example, I got an admixture test which gives me percentages from different populations around the globe, like, European, Sub-Saharan African, Native American, etc. ....Do you think that those populations are purely based on environment differences.
 
What do you think about X chromosome?
 
All the best,
Nehemia Javier Yeshurun
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Brit-Am Reply:
 
Autosomal DNA is influenced by the environment the same as all DNA seems to be.
It is also inherited but at some point it appeared as a result of the interaction with environment.