title: Mitochondrial DNA and Y-chromosome structure at the Mediterranean and Atlantic façades of the Iberian Peninsula.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to analyze mitochondrial DNA and Y-chromosome lineages in a range of Atlantic and Mediterranean populations of the Iberian Peninsula in search of genetic differences between both façades and to uncover the most probable geographic origin and coalescence ages of lineages.
  
  
  METHODS
  The control region of mitochondrial DNA and haplogroup diagnostic positions were analyzed in 575 subjects and Y-chromosome markers were typed in 260 unrelated males. Moreover, previously published data were compiled and used in the analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The level of genetic structure deduced from uniparental markers for the Iberian Peninsula was weak, with stronger Atlantic versus Mediterranean than North to South differentiation and larger diversities in the South. In general, mitochondrial DNA haplogroups had mainly Paleolithic and Mesolithic coalescences in Europe, although some of them, ruling out drift effects, seem to have younger implantation in Central Europe and the Atlantic areas than in the Mediterranean (I, J, J2a, T1, and W) while others as N1 and X could have reached the Iberian Peninsula at the Neolithic transition. On the other hand, younger coalescence ages are being proposed for the arriving or spread of the bulk of Y-chromosome lineages in Europe.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The major haplotypic affinities found for all the Iberian Peninsula regions were always with North Africa and the Atlantic Islands. These results draw an Atlantic network that clearly resembles those of the Megalithic Copper and Bronze cultures at this part of Europe.
authors.affiliation: Unitat Antropologia Biològica, Departament de Biologia Animal, Biologia Vegetal i Ecologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fregel
authors.forename: Vicente M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Cabrera
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.forename: Jose M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Larruga
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Miguel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pilar Aluja
authors.forename: Ana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: González
mesh_terms: D041322:Chromosomes, Human, Y / Q000235:genetics*; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D011174:Portugal; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013030:Spain
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial