title: Y-chromosome phylogeographic analysis of the Greek-Cypriot population reveals elements consistent with Neolithic and Bronze Age settlements.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The archeological record indicates that the permanent settlement of Cyprus began with pioneering agriculturalists circa 11,000 years before present, (ca. 11,000 y BP). Subsequent colonization events followed, some recognized regionally. Here, we assess the Y-chromosome structure of Cyprus in context to regional populations and correlate it to phases of prehistoric colonization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Analysis of haplotypes from 574 samples showed that island-wide substructure was barely significant in a spatial analysis of molecular variance (SAMOVA). However, analyses of molecular variance (AMOVA) of haplogroups using 92 binary markers genotyped in 629 Cypriots revealed that the proportion of variance among the districts was irregularly distributed. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed potential genetic associations of Greek-Cypriots with neighbor populations. Contrasting haplogroups in the PCA were used as surrogates of parental populations. Admixture analyses suggested that the majority of G2a-P15 and R1b-M269 components were contributed by Anatolia and Levant sources, respectively, while Greece Balkans supplied the majority of E-V13 and J2a-M67. Haplotype-based expansion times were at historical levels suggestive of recent demography.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Analyses of Cypriot haplogroup data are consistent with two stages of prehistoric settlement. E-V13 and E-M34 are widespread, and PCA suggests sourcing them to the Balkans and Levant/Anatolia, respectively. The persistent pre-Greek component is represented by elements of G2-U5(xL30) haplogroups: U5*, PF3147, and L293. J2b-M205 may contribute also to the pre-Greek strata. The majority of R1b-Z2105 lineages occur in both the westernmost and easternmost districts. Distinctively, sub-haplogroup R1b- M589 occurs only in the east. The absence of R1b- M589 lineages in Crete and the Balkans and the presence in Asia Minor are compatible with Late Bronze Age influences from Anatolia rather than from Mycenaean Greeks.
authors: Molecular Medicine Research Center and Laboratory of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cyprus, Kallipoleos 75, 1678 Nicosia, Cyprus.
authors: Konstantinos
authors: K
authors: Voskarides
authors: Aix Marseille Université, ADES UMR7268, CNRS, EFS-AM, Marseille, France.
authors: Stéphane
authors: S
authors: Mazières
authors: Molecular Medicine Research Center and Laboratory of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cyprus, Kallipoleos 75, 1678 Nicosia, Cyprus.
authors: Despina
authors: D
authors: Hadjipanagi
authors: Aix Marseille Université, ADES UMR7268, CNRS, EFS-AM, Marseille, France.
authors: Julie
authors: J
authors: Di Cristofaro
authors: Molecular Medicine Research Center and Laboratory of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cyprus, Kallipoleos 75, 1678 Nicosia, Cyprus.
authors: Anastasia
authors: A
authors: Ignatiou
authors: Molecular Medicine Research Center and Laboratory of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cyprus, Kallipoleos 75, 1678 Nicosia, Cyprus.
authors: Charalambos
authors: C
authors: Stefanou
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA USA.
authors: Roy J
authors: RJ
authors: King
authors: Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305 USA.
authors: Peter A
authors: PA
authors: Underhill
authors: Aix Marseille Université, ADES UMR7268, CNRS, EFS-AM, Marseille, France.
authors: Jacques
authors: J
authors: Chiaroni
authors: Molecular Medicine Research Center and Laboratory of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cyprus, Kallipoleos 75, 1678 Nicosia, Cyprus.
authors: Constantinos
authors: C
authors: Deltas
keywords: Bronze Age; Cyprus; Migration; Neolithic; Y-chromosome