title: HLA genes in Arabic-speaking Moroccans: close relatedness to Berbers and Iberians.
abstract: The gene profile of Arabic-speaking Moroccans has been compared with those of other Mediterranean populations in order to provide additional information about the history of their origins. Our HLA data suggest that most Moroccans are of a Berber (Imazighen) origin and that Arabs who invaded North Africa and Spain in the 7th century A.D. did not substantially contributed to the gene pool; however, they imposed their advanced culture and their religion. Present-day Egyptians are also related to Moroccan Berbers and this supports an ancient Saharan origin for part of the present-day Mediterraneans, particularly for the Arabic-speaking ones (also Algerians) and also for the older substratum of Mediterranean people.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology and Molecular Biology, 12 de Octubre, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gómez-Casado
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: del Moral
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martínez-Laso
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García-Gómez
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Allende
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Silvera-Redondo
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Longas
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: González-Hevilla
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kandil
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zamora
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arnaiz-Villena
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D018912:Arabs / Q000235:genetics*; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D015234:HLA-A Antigens / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D015235:HLA-B Antigens / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D059848:HLA-DQ alpha-Chains; D059866:HLA-DQ beta-Chains; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D015810:Linkage Disequilibrium; D019083:Mediterranean Region; D009018:Morocco
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; D015234:HLA-A Antigens; D015235:HLA-B Antigens; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens; D059848:HLA-DQ alpha-Chains; D059866:HLA-DQ beta-Chains; C069050:HLA-DQA1 antigen; C069051:HLA-DQB1 antigen; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains