The Basques in the Genetic Landscape of Europe

Abstract

This study examines the position of the Basques in the genetic landscape of Europe using molecular genetic systems. Biparental markers (autosomal STRs and classical genetic markers) and uniparental markers (mtDNA haplogroups and HVS-I sequences, as well as Y-chromosome STR haplotypes) are used to address hypotheses of population origin and structure of the Basque population of Spain. Three hypotheses of Basque origins are tested: 1) The Basques share a recent common ancestor with populations of the Caucasus; 2) The Basques are descendants of ancient Iberian populations who migrated from North Africa during the Neolithic; 3) The Basques are a remnant population, the descendants of Paleolithic Europeans, who evolved in situ, with little gene flow from Neolithic farmers. The question of heterogeneity within the Basque population is addressed, and uniparental markers are examined for evidence of Neolithic ancestry in the Basque Provinces.