Genes predict village of origin in rural Europe

Eur J Hum Genet. 2010 Nov;18(11):1269-70. doi: 10.1038/ejhg.2010.92. Epub 2010 Jun 23.

Abstract

The genetic structure of human populations is important in population genetics, forensics and medicine. Using genome-wide scans and individuals with all four grandparents born in the same settlement, we here demonstrate remarkable geographical structure across 8-30 km in three different parts of rural Europe. After excluding close kin and inbreeding, village of origin could still be predicted correctly on the basis of genetic data for 89-100% of individuals.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Europe
  • Family Health
  • Genetics, Population / methods*
  • Genome, Human / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Models, Genetic
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Principal Component Analysis
  • Rural Population*