Y-chromosomal haplotypes for the AmpFlSTR Yfiler PCR amplification kit in a population sample of Bedouins residing in the area of the Fourth Nile Cataract

Abstract

The Bedouin are a part of a predominantly desert-dwelling Arab ethnic group traditionally divided into tribes or clans. The term ‘Bedouin’ means, ‘those who live in bādiyah’ or ‘those who live in the desert’. Altogether, the Bedouin population in Africa and in the Middle East numbers about 4 million. The contemporary Bedouin tribes have originated from the area of Arabian Peninsula and overlapped older Nubian populations of Christian Era that had developed after Marawy culture which was an extension to the Pharaonic culture. Anthropological studies on the native inhabitants dwelling in region of the 4th Nile Cataract revealed significant morphologic variation based on cephalometric and somatoscopic data. The skin color ranges from very dark, similar to that seen in inhabitants of Central Africa, to olive – typical for the Mediterranean race (prof. Jan Czekanowski – personal communication). Examples of facial types among individuals dwelling in the same village are presented in Supplementary Fig. 1. This dissimilarity results obviously from history of the tribes involved in banditry and trade of slaves from southern Sudan and other parts of Africa, since many of the slaves assimilated into the local population. Additionally, islamisation and arabisation of Sudan caused admixture to the pool of resident Christian inhabitants originating from the ancient Meroe and Nubia. Currently detailed genetic investigations are performed on these populations as well as on archeological sites (burial grounds) to learn more about the origin of the inhabitants.