Y-chromosomal analysis of Greek Cypriots reveals a primarily common pre-Ottoman paternal ancestry with Turkish Cypriots.

Alexandros Heraclides,Panayiotis Manoli,Evy Bashiardes,Jonathan King,Bruce Budowle,Marios A Cariolou,Vasilis Christofi,Eva Fernández-Domínguez,Marios Chimonas,Stefania Bertoncini

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0179474

Abstract

Genetics can provide invaluable information on the ancestry of the current inhabitants of Cyprus. A Y-chromosome analysis was performed to (i) determine paternal ancestry among the Greek Cypriot (GCy) community in the context of the Central and Eastern Mediterranean and the Near East; and (ii) identify genetic similarities and differences between Greek Cypriots (GCy) and Turkish Cypriots (TCy). Our haplotype-based analysis has revealed that GCy and TCy patrilineages derive primarily from a single gene pool and show very close genetic affinity (low genetic differentiation) to Calabrian Italian and Lebanese patrilineages. In terms of more recent (past millennium) ancestry, as indicated by Y-haplotype sharing, GCy and TCy share much more haplotypes between them than with any surrounding population (7–8% of total haplotypes shared), while TCy also share around 3% of haplotypes with mainland Turks, and to a lesser extent with North Africans. In terms of Y-haplogroup frequencies, again GCy and TCy show very similar distributions, with the predominant haplogroups in both being J2a-M410, E-M78, and G2-P287. Overall, GCy also have a similar Y-haplogroup distribution to non-Turkic Anatolian and Southwest Caucasian populations, as well as Cretan Greeks. TCy show a slight shift towards Turkish populations, due to the presence of Eastern Eurasian (some of which of possible Ottoman origin) Y-haplogroups. Overall, the Y-chromosome analysis performed, using both Y-STR haplotype and binary Y-haplogroup data puts Cypriot in the middle of a genetic continuum stretching from the Levant to Southeast Europe and reveals that despite some differences in haplotype sharing and haplogroup structure, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots share primarily a common pre-Ottoman paternal ancestry.

Highlights

Cyprus, an eastern Mediterranean island, is located south of Turkey, west of Syria, north of Africa and east of Greece
Haplotype diversity values of our Greek Cypriots (GCy) sample, as well as the previously published Turkish Cypriots (TCy) sample and other Greek and Turkish populations from our Y-17 comparative database can be seen in S9 Table
The GCy and TCy populations displayed generally low percentages of different haplotypes compared to other populations, while haplotype diversity values were all in the range of 0.99

Summary

Introduction

An eastern Mediterranean island, is located south of Turkey, west of Syria, north of Africa and east of Greece. Ancient Greeks (primarily Achaeans) started settling Cyprus during the Late Bronze Age[2]. Cyprus’ privileged position, situated at the crossroads of three continents, resulted in a turbulent history dominated by many great empires. These powers included the Assyrians, Persians, Alexander the Great and his successors of the Ptolemy dynasty of Egypt and the Romans, all before Cyprus became part of the Byzantine Empire[4]. The conquest of the island continued later on through the crusaders of Richard the Lionhearted of England, the rule of the Frankish Lusignan family followed by the Venetian rule, three centuries of Ottoman rule (1571–1878), and the British rule until 1960, when Cyprus became an independent country[4]

Methods

Results

Conclusion