title: Y-chromosome R-M343 African lineages and sickle cell disease reveal structured assimilation in Lebanon.
abstract: We have sought to identify signals of assimilation of African male lines in Lebanon by exploring the association of sickle cell disease (SCD) in Lebanon with Y-chromosome haplogroups that are informative of the disease origin and its exclusivity to the Muslim community. A total of 732 samples were analyzed, including 33 SCD patients from Lebanon genotyped for 28 binary markers and 19 short tandem repeats on the non-recombinant segment of the Y chromosome. Genetic organization was identified using populations known to have influenced the genetic structure of the Lebanese population, in addition to African populations with high incidence of SCD. Y-chromosome haplogroup R-M343 sub-lineages distinguish between sub-Saharan African and Lebanese Y chromosomes. We detected a limited penetration of SCD into Lebanese R-M343 carriers, restricted to Lebanese Muslims. We suggest that this penetration brought the sickle cell gene along with the African R-M343, probably with the Saharan caravan slave trade.
authors.affiliation: Medical School, The Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haber
authors.forename: Daniel E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Platt
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khoury
authors.forename: Danielle A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Badro
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abboud
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tyler-Smith
authors.forename: Pierre A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Zalloua
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D017954:Africa South of the Sahara / Q000208:ethnology; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics*; D044383:Black People / Q000235:genetics*; D041322:Chromosomes, Human, Y / Q000235:genetics; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005260:Female; D005828:Genetics, Population; D006801:Humans; D007861:Lebanon / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male