The role of Southeastern Europe (SEE) in origins and diffusion of major paternal lineages

Abstract

The aim of this study is to explore the existing data based on high-resolution phylogenetic studies of Y chromosome variation in populations from Southeastern Europe and elsewhere in Eurasia in order to evaluate the role of the region in the process of the prehistoric colonization of the European continent and the structuring of the modern paternal genetic pool. Even though the distribution and estimated range expansions of major paternal lineages in Southeastern Europe are consistent with the typical European Y chromosome gene pool, the specific role of this region in the process of structuring the European paternal genetic landscape is evident in prehistoric episodes of significant gene flow that diffused from or into the region.

Keywords

• Human Y chromosome
• phylogenetic analysis
• Southeastern Europe