Mitochondrial DNA
In 2007, Bryan Sykes broke mitochondrial results into twelve haplogroups for various regions of the Isles. He has given maps and proposals concerning ancient migrations for Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England.
Sykes and Oppenheimer have each given nicknames to various haplogroups to allow easier recognition, including the principal ones in the Isles. Below the normal scientific names are given, followed by the popularized "clan names" of Sykes, and in some cases also of Oppenheimer:-
mtDNA
- Haplogroup H (mtDNA) Helena (Sykes), Helina (Oppenheimer)
- Haplogroup I (mtDNA) Isha
- Haplogroup J (mtDNA) Jasmine
- Haplogroup T (mtDNA) Tara
- Haplogroup V (mtDNA) Velda (Sykes), Vera (Oppenheimer)
- Haplogroup W (mtDNA) Wanda
- Haplogroup X (mtDNA) Xenia
- Haplogroup U (mtDNA) Europa (Oppenheimer)
...and within U...
-
- Haplogroup U2 (mtDNA) Uta
- Haplogroup U3 (mtDNA) Uma
- Haplogroup U4 (mtDNA) Ulrika
- Haplogroup U5 (mtDNA) Ursula
Sykes found that the maternal clan (haplogroup) pattern was similar throughout England but with a definite trend from east and north to the south and west. The minor clans are mainly found in the east of England. Sykes found Haplogroup H to be dominant in Ireland and Wales. A few differences were found between north, mid and south Wales. There was a closer link between north and mid Wales than either had with the south.
Sykes found that 10% of the Irish population were in Haplogroup U5 called Ursula. He calculated a date of 7300 BC for the entry of this lineage into Ireland. Similar dates were proposed for the other mitochondrial haplogroups, implying that mitochondrial lines in Ireland are far older there than the arrival of Iron Age Celts. Little difference was found between the maternal clans in the four provinces.
Read more about this topic: Genetic History Of The British Isles
Famous quotes containing the word dna:
“Here [in London, history] ... seemed the very fabric of things, as if the city were a single growth of stone and brick, uncounted strata of message and meaning, age upon age, generated over the centuries to the dictates of some now all-but-unreadable DNA of commerce and empire.”
—William Gibson (b. 1948)