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Phylogenetic applications of whole Y-chromosome sequences and the Near Eastern origin of Ashkenazi Levites

Author

Listed:
  • Siiri Rootsi

    (University of Tartu)

  • Doron M. Behar

    (University of Tartu
    Molecular Medicine Laboratory, Rambam Health Care Campus)

  • Mari Järve

    (University of Tartu)

  • Alice A. Lin

    (Stanford University)

  • Natalie M. Myres

    (Ancestry.com DNA)

  • Ben Passarelli

    (Stanford University)

  • G. David Poznik

    (Stanford University)

  • Shay Tzur

    (Molecular Medicine Laboratory, Rambam Health Care Campus)

  • Hovhannes Sahakyan

    (University of Tartu
    Laboratory of Ethnogenomics, Institute of Molecular Biology, National Academy of Sciences)

  • Ajai Kumar Pathak

    (University of Tartu)

  • Saharon Rosset

    (School of Mathematical Sciences, Tel-Aviv University)

  • Mait Metspalu

    (University of Tartu)

  • Viola Grugni

    (Università di Pavia)

  • Ornella Semino

    (Università di Pavia
    Centro Interdipartimentale ‘Studi di Genere’, Università di Pavia)

  • Ene Metspalu

    (University of Tartu)

  • Carlos D. Bustamante

    (Stanford University)

  • Karl Skorecki

    (Molecular Medicine Laboratory, Rambam Health Care Campus
    Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research Institute, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology)

  • Richard Villems

    (University of Tartu)

  • Toomas Kivisild

    (University of Cambridge)

  • Peter A. Underhill

    (Stanford University)

Abstract

Previous Y-chromosome studies have demonstrated that Ashkenazi Levites, members of a paternally inherited Jewish priestly caste, display a distinctive founder event within R1a, the most prevalent Y-chromosome haplogroup in Eastern Europe. Here we report the analysis of 16 whole R1 sequences and show that a set of 19 unique nucleotide substitutions defines the Ashkenazi R1a lineage. While our survey of one of these, M582, in 2,834 R1a samples reveals its absence in 922 Eastern Europeans, we show it is present in all sampled R1a Ashkenazi Levites, as well as in 33.8% of other R1a Ashkenazi Jewish males and 5.9% of 303 R1a Near Eastern males, where it shows considerably higher diversity. Moreover, the M582 lineage also occurs at low frequencies in non-Ashkenazi Jewish populations. In contrast to the previously suggested Eastern European origin for Ashkenazi Levites, the current data are indicative of a geographic source of the Levite founder lineage in the Near East and its likely presence among pre-Diaspora Hebrews.

Suggested Citation

  • Siiri Rootsi & Doron M. Behar & Mari Järve & Alice A. Lin & Natalie M. Myres & Ben Passarelli & G. David Poznik & Shay Tzur & Hovhannes Sahakyan & Ajai Kumar Pathak & Saharon Rosset & Mait Metspalu & , 2013. "Phylogenetic applications of whole Y-chromosome sequences and the Near Eastern origin of Ashkenazi Levites," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 4(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:4:y:2013:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms3928
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms3928
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