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The Jewish and Arab genetic ancestry of the Spaniards
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By h.b. - Dec 5, 2008 - 6:56 AM
A new study published in the American Journal of Human Genetics shows that a third of Spaniards have genetic evidence from other cultures.
A new genetic study has claimed that one in five Spaniards have Jewish ancestors, and one in ten have genes inherited from Muslims. In fact a third of Spaniards have genetic evidence of other cultures with a further one in ten with genes from the inhabitants of the North of Africa.
The study was carried out be scientists at Leicester University in the UK and the Pompeu Fabra University from Barcelona, and led by Briton Mark Jobling.
They studied the Y chromosome of residents of the peninsular and the Balearics and compared them to samples from North Africans and Sephardic Jews to reach the conclusion that one in three Spaniards has Moorish or Jewish ancestors.
The Y chromosome is only present in men and is passed from father to son. They took samples from 1,140 people in Spain to reach their conclusions.
The complete study is published in the American Journal of Human Genetics.
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Spain Features : History
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The Jewish and Arab genetic ancestry of the Spaniards
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By h.b. - Dec 5, 2008 - 6:56 AM
The view of the Alhambra palace in Granada, from the St. Nicolás mirador - Archive Photo EFE
A new genetic study has claimed that one in five Spaniards have Jewish ancestors, and one in ten have genes inherited from Muslims. In fact a third of Spaniards have genetic evidence of other cultures with a further one in ten with genes from the inhabitants of the North of Africa.
The study was carried out be scientists at Leicester University in the UK and the Pompeu Fabra University from Barcelona, and led by Briton Mark Jobling.
They studied the Y chromosome of residents of the peninsular and the Balearics and compared them to samples from North Africans and Sephardic Jews to reach the conclusion that one in three Spaniards has Moorish or Jewish ancestors.
The Y chromosome is only present in men and is passed from father to son. They took samples from 1,140 people in Spain to reach their conclusions.
The complete study is published in the American Journal of Human Genetics.
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Spain Features : History
Readers' comments:
hugh
05 Dec 2008, 10:15
05 Dec 2008, 10:15
Well, well, well.
Anna
13 Dec 2008, 12:08
13 Dec 2008, 12:08
Very interesting indeed. Considering that a lot of Spaniards will try to
diminish this study or report. I feel if they acknowledge their ancestry
they can understand and work better with cultures that are in relations to
them.
Julio Brie
15 Dec 2008, 11:39
15 Dec 2008, 11:39
Thanks. Very eye opening - That explains a lot, I thought I paid to much
for that carpet the other day .......
er_guiri
16 Dec 2008, 14:00
16 Dec 2008, 14:00
Xenophobes the lot of you! The avarage spaniard knows about his ancestry,
and is very proud of it! How's this for you? One in 3 humans alive today
are decended for Genghis Kahn: embarassed? You shouldn't!
robiendelencierro@unam.es
05 Jan 2009, 23:10
05 Jan 2009, 23:10
the report says 1 in 10 Spaniards has "berber", (NOT "arab"). 1 in 10. In
some regions 0%.
perez
08 Jan 2009, 17:47
08 Jan 2009, 17:47
We Spanish have no problem with this. If we need to have some arab and
jewish genes to be Spanish, well than I am glad I have those genes. We
don't have to be ashamed of who we are. We have the hotest chicks anyway
;).
archuleta
11 Jan 2009, 00:05
11 Jan 2009, 00:05
It's pretty obvious visually. Besides, what is Spanish? As the report
states,the genetic evidence reflects this.
Ronaldo
11 Jan 2009, 10:59
11 Jan 2009, 10:59
Not suprised. Any european country that has been occupied by
roman,arab,french etc is going to be a good blend of mixed blood.
Please keep to the subject. Opinions published here are of our visitors, not the Typically Spanish team. Comments which go against Spanish laws or which are libellous are not allowed. We reserve the right to delete any comment we wish.
Por favor, céntrate en el tema. Son las opiniones de los internautas, y no las de Typically Spanish. No está permitido verter comentarios contrarios a las leyes españolas o injuriantes. Reservado el derecho a eliminar los comentarios que consideremos fuera de tema.
Por favor, céntrate en el tema. Son las opiniones de los internautas, y no las de Typically Spanish. No está permitido verter comentarios contrarios a las leyes españolas o injuriantes. Reservado el derecho a eliminar los comentarios que consideremos fuera de tema.
