Originally posted by Poligiros
View Post
Here is a study I previously published on this forum from a European Journal of Human Genetics.
While the study is biased (because it starts with "Greeks", even though the study confirms "Macedonians",) here is what is stated:
Pakistan lies within a region that was invaded by Alexander the Great in 327–323 BC,1 although archeological evidence in northern Pakistan suggests that the Greek influence predates this invasion.2 Many ethnically and linguistically distinct populations inhabit this region, three of which (Burusho, Kalash and the Pathan) claim to be descendents of Greek soldiers who invaded the Indian subcontinent.3, 4, 5 A preliminary study using a limited number of Y-chromosomal markers found no evidence for admixture between the Greeks and Burusho or Pathan, and provided ambiguous evidence of genetic admixture between the Greek and Kalash populations.6 A subsequent analysis of autosomal loci gave no indication that the Kalash or other populations were genetically related to the Greeks,7 and in another study the Kalash population were shown as a genetic isolate8 who might therefore have developed unusual genetic characteristics by drift.9
Clade E3b1 lineages, which were frequent in the Greeks but not in Pakistan, were nevertheless observed in two Pathan individuals, one of whom shared a 16 Y-STR haplotype with the Greeks. The worldwide distribution of a shortened (9 Y-STR) version of this haplotype, determined from database information, was concentrated in Macedonia and Greece, suggesting an origin there.
Worldwide data for the 16-element haplotype are not available, but a subset of nine of the STRs are included in by the Y-STR Haplotype Reference Database (YHRD)23 and were used to search this. The haplotype DYS19=13; 389I=13; 389II=30; 390=24; 391=10; 392=11; 393=13; 438=10; 439=12 was found in 53 individuals in a worldwide population sample of 7897 haplotypes and was highly specific for the Balkans (Figure 5). The contour map shows a major concentration around Macedonia and Greece, with a low scattering in other European countries, Tunisia, West Africa and the Pathans. This gives a strong indication of a European, possibly Greek, origin of these Pathan Y chromosomes.
This coincides with the period of Alexander's invasion during 327–323 BC. This haplotype was not observed in any other E3b1-derived Pakistani Y chromosome but was highly specific for the Balkans – the highest frequency being in Macedonia.
So we see, based on the science, Macedonians are closer to the Pathans than the Greeks.
Comment